On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, 15 July, the UN emphasized that that henceforth the focus needs to be on 'Skills for a Resilient Youth in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond' since the 'pandemic and lockdown measures have led to the worldwide closure of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, threatening the continuity of skills development' and reported that 'distance training has become the most common way of imparting skills, with considerable difficulties regarding, among others, curricula adaptation, trainee and trainer preparedness, connectivity, or assessment and certification processes.'
On the occsion the observance, virtual events focused on the theme of “Skills for a Resilient Youth” are going to take place, one of them is the 'online panel discussion organized by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United Nations, together with UNESCO, ILO and the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.'
Two pertinent points made by the UN are as follows.
It is estimated that nearly 70% of the world’s learners are affected by school closures across education levels currently.
A prolonged school-to-work transition period would be required during post-COVID-19 societies for recovery would require skills to manage evolving challenges and the resilience to adapt to future disruptions
The world community has been urged to enhance "access to affordable quality TVET; the acquisition of technical and vocational skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship; the elimination of gender disparity and ensuring access for the vulnerable. In this context, TVET is expected to address the multiple demands of an economic, social and environmental nature by helping youth and adults develop the skills they need for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, promoting equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and supporting transitions to green economies and environmental sustainability."
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