United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has described education as the cornerstone of a“new social contract” and a vital tool to end poverty, create decent jobs, and ensure social equality.

Speaking on Wednesday at the High-Level Meeting on Education during the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Guterres praised Qatar for its support of global education initiatives while warning of widening inequalities in learning systems worldwide.

He said more than 270 million children and adolescents remain out of school globally, and a shortage of 44 million teachers poses one of the biggest challenges to education systems.

“Education is the engine of social progress and the strongest weapon we have to fight poverty - but only if no one is left behind,” Guterres said.

He urged governments to allocate at least 15% of their domestic revenue and 4% of their GDP to education, calling for stronger and more inclusive learning systems to build equitable futures.

The UN chief stressed that education must adapt to emerging technologies and green skills, but not as a substitute for teachers - rather as a means to empower them and enhance quality learning.

Guterres cautioned that failure to address financial, access, and quality gaps in education would jeopardize global efforts to achieve sustainable development and social justice.

Experts attending the summit said the UN's renewed focus on education reflects growing concern that learning inequalities could deepen economic divides, particularly in low-income and conflict-affected regions.

They added that Guterres's remarks in Doha serve as a global reminder that investment in education is not just a moral duty but an economic imperative for lasting peace and prosperity.

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