GEM Report Unesco

14/08/2026

Young people are already helping to shape education: through advocacy, policymaking, student representation and collaboration with governments. But too often, decisions are still made about young people, rather than with them.

🔴 Today, just 1 in 3 countries have formal bodies to engage youth or students in education policymaking and decision-making.

The 2026 Youth Report, , mapped 500 nationally representative youth and student organizations around the world and collected the views of more than 100 of them on what meaningful participation looks like in practice.

Their experiences show both the progress being made and the barriers that remain. As discussions about the future beyond 2030 take shape, youth and students need to be engaged as co-creators and partners, not only as beneficiaries of education systems.

Swipe to hear directly from youth and student organizations around the world. ➡️
Explore the report: https://bit.ly/2026youthreport-pub

💬 Have you helped shape education policy to expand access and learning opportunities? Share your story from your country using .

14/08/2026

The 2026 Youth Report, , published by the UNESCO and UN Youth Affairs, provides the first global measurement of youth and student participation in education decision-making.

The findings show a clear gap between consultation and influence. While many governments report engaging young people during policy design, only 1 in 3 youth and student organisations say their feedback is taken into account, and just 1 in 5 describe their engagement with government as genuinely collaborative.

The evidence points to participation that remains largely symbolic, limiting the role of youth in shaping education policy outcomes.

➡️ Explore more: https://bit.ly/2026youthreport-pub

13/08/2026

It is no longer enough to listen to young people. They must help lead the decisions that shape education.

The 2026 Youth Report by the UNESCO and UN Youth Affairs exposes the gap between youth participation and genuine influence and urges governments toward formal, well-resourced, rights-based youth participation.​

Hear from youth leaders Max Genin, Joshua K. Opey, Jade Bowler, Jacob Blasius and Mayada Adil on what it means to in practice.

The next chapter for education must be written not for young people, but with them.

➡️ Explore the 2026 Youth Report: https://bit.ly/2026youthreport-pub

💬 Have you helped shape education policy to expand access and learning opportunities? Share your story from your country using .

13/08/2026

6 in 10 youth and student organisations report being consulted during education policy design, yet only 1 in 3 see their feedback reflected in final decisions.

The 2026 Youth Report, , by the UNESCO and the UN Youth Affairs, shows that this gap between consultation and influence is systemic.

When youth voices are not meaningfully integrated, education systems weaken their own capacity for reform, resilience and long-term relevance.

➡️ Explore the findings: https://bit.ly/2026youthreport-pub

12/08/2026

What happens when students have a real voice in education policy?
🇬🇭 In Ghana, the Mmobrowa movement opposed the introduction of academic and residential facility user fees. Its advocacy contributed to the creation of the Ghana Education Trust Fund, which continues to finance education infrastructure and scholarships for disadvantaged students.

But to , a seat at the table is not enough. Student organisations also need the independence and legitimacy to represent students effectively.

On International , Joshua Opey, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council and Youth Advisor on the Advisory Board, shares what NUGS’ experience can teach us about meaningful youth participation in the latest :
https://bit.ly/45nFpgm

💬 Have you helped shape education policy to expand access and learning opportunities? Share your story from your country using .

12/08/2026

12/08/2026

Leading with youth is not the same as consulting youth.
This International , we are calling for youth participation that translates into real influence.

Across education systems, young people are often invited to share their views. Far fewer see those views reflected in final decisions. Participation is common, influence is not.

This issue is at the heart of the 2026 Youth Report by the and the UN Youth Affairs. The report introduces the first global indicator measuring youth and student participation in education legislation and policymaking, offering comparable evidence across countries.

➡️ Explore the report: https://bit.ly/2026youthreport-pub

📣 Have you participated in shaping a policy or decision that improved access to education? Share your experience using and .

12/08/2026

Young people will inherit the future we are shaping today. They should have a real role in shaping it.
This International , , Chair of officialcyc and member of the Advisory Board for the UNESCO , calls for youth participation to go beyond consultation.

If young people are expected to inherit the outcomes of today’s decisions, they should also have a meaningful role in turning those decisions into action.

Explore the 2026 Youth Report by the GEM Report and , link in the bio!

📢 Have you had a say in decisions or policies that improved access to education in your school, community or country? We want to hear from you!
Share your story using and .

12/08/2026

Young people will inherit the future we are shaping today. They should have a real role in shaping it.
This International , Joshua Opey, Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Council and member of the Advisory Board for the UNESCO , calls for youth participation to go beyond consultation.

Listening to young people is important, but meaningful participation also means involving them in decisions and their implementation, with real responsibility and influence.

Young people bring perspectives grounded in their own experiences and a direct stake in the future. In education, their participation can help identify barriers, challenge approaches that are not working and shape solutions that better respond to their needs.

If young people are expected to inherit the outcomes of today’s decisions, they should also have a meaningful role in turning those decisions into action.

Explore the 2026 Youth Report by the GEM Report and UN Youth Affairs:
https://bit.ly/2026youthreport-pub

📢 Have you had a say in decisions or policies that improved access to education in your school, community or country? We want to hear from you!
Share your story using and .

12/08/2026

Young people under 30 make up more than half of the world’s population and are central to the future of education systems.
Yet their role in shaping education policy remains limited.

Only 1 in 3 governments has formal mechanisms to involve youth and students in education policymaking.

The and UN Youth Affairs’ 2026 Youth Report, , links this gap to ongoing challenges in policy relevance, equity and public trust. When youth perspectives are absent, education policies risk missing the realities of learners and future workers.

This International , explore the findings and what they mean for education governance:
https://bit.ly/2026youthreport-pub