Education has long been seen as the gateway to opportunity. But as the world faces increasingly complex social, economic, and environmental challenges, the role of education must evolve. It is no longer enough for schools to focus solely on academics. They must also become safe spaces where learners’ well-being is protected, nurtured, and prioritized.

This call to action was at the heart of the UKFIET Conference 2025 held from 16–18 September in Oxford, UK. The gathering brought together education leaders, researchers, and practitioners under the theme:
“Mobilising knowledge, partnerships, and innovations for sustainable development through education and training.”

Reimagining Education in a Time of Crisis

Plenary speakers such as Assistant Professor Ahmed Kamal Junina (AlAsqa University) and Professor Yusuf Sayed (University of Cambridge) reminded participants that education is a “field in crisis.” Their reflections highlighted the urgent need to reimagine education policy in times marked by instability, inequality, and growing threats to children’s rights.

The message was clear: safeguarding learners’ well-being is not optional—it is essential to delivering meaningful, quality education.

FAWEZI’s Voice at the Global Stage

At this global platform, FAWEZI’s Executive Director, Lydia Madyirapanze, represented Zimbabwe’s perspective and shared insights from the organisation’s work advancing gender equality in education. She joined global experts from UNESCO, Child Fund International, and Project Jeune Leader (Madagascar) in a critical session on:

Embedding violence prevention and response into primary and secondary education: Promising approaches & learning
🗓️ Thursday, 18 September
🕜 13:30 (UK time)

Together, the panelists demonstrated how schools can move beyond academics by embedding violence prevention and response mechanisms into everyday teaching and learning. From classroom practices to system-wide policy frameworks, the session spotlighted how proactive measures can create safer, more inclusive learning environments.

For FAWEZI, this is part of a broader vision: that every child—especially girls—should access education free from fear, violence, or discrimination. Only then can education fulfil its promise of empowerment and transformation.

Learning Across Sessions: Data, Partnerships, and Well-Being

Beyond this panel, FAWEZI’s participation in the conference was rich and varied. Ms. Madyirapanze engaged in:

• Quick Fire Exchange – Working together to improve teaching, learning and well-being, emphasising that collaboration across sectors is central to nurturing the whole learner, not just academic success.

• Symposium – Counting on education data to help build gender equality in and through education, where participants explored how data can drive accountability, track progress, and sharpen advocacy for girls’ education at global, national, and local levels.

• Creative Session – Stronger together! How partnerships can help end gender stereotypes and harmful gender norms through education, a vivid reminder that education systems must also confront and dismantle deep-rooted cultural barriers.

Each of these spaces underscored the same message: safeguarding learner well-being demands collective action. It requires partnerships between governments, civil society, educators, and communities.

From Policy to Practice: What Next?

Moving education beyond academics to safeguard learners’ well-being is not an abstract aspiration—it is a pressing necessity. It calls for:

• Integrated violence prevention strategies in schools and policies.

• Data-driven decision-making that shines a light on gender gaps and inequalities.

• Strong partnerships that challenge harmful norms and amplify solutions.

• Holistic approaches that recognise the interplay between teaching, learning, and well-being.

A Call for Transformative Education

As FAWEZI’s participation at UKFIET 2025 demonstrated, the future of education must be transformative. It must produce not only learners who can read, write, and count, but also young people who are safe, confident, and able to thrive in society.

Education that prioritises well-being is education that protects. It is education that empowers. And ultimately, it is education that can deliver on the promise of sustainable development.