UNESCO and MESU launch program on digital pedagogy, mental health and social and emotional education

The new "Digital Teacher" course is designed to support distance and blended learning in Ukraine. The program was created for at least 50,000 teachers to develop digital pedagogy skills and use tools for high-quality online learning.

UNESCO will keep supporting the continuity of learning in Ukraine. We must ensure teachers have the resources and skills they need to deliver distance and blended learning and that they have a network of support during these difficult times.– Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education.

The war has increased the burden on the education system, as teachers lack the tools and training to continue teaching at a distance or in a blended modality. Online course, developed by UNESCO with funding from Google.org, will address these challenges, including improving teachers' skills and their ability to use digital tools, improving their working conditions and emotional state.

The program was developed in cooperation with a group of Ukrainian experts. It contains seven modules with access to practical exercises, tests and additional resources. This makes it easier to create a relevant and engaging learning experience. Content also addresses aspects of mental health, psychosocial support, and social and emotional learning.

In the new school year, 1 million Ukrainian students are forced to pursue their education exclusively through distance learning. Another 1.5 million in blended format. It is year four when our children don’t have physical access to schools. Such a situation requires enhancing digital solutions to ensure equal access to quality education for all in the midst of war. As we commemorate World Teacher’s Day this year, we join hands with UNESCO to empower teachers with the 'Digital Teacher' project. In the face of adversity, UNESCO and Google.org are committed to supporting resilience of educators in Ukraine. – Dmytro Zavgorodnii, Deputy Minister on Digital Transformation.

Alongside the course, UNESCO is establishing a Community of Practice and a mentoring network to support educators in developing their competencies. Teachers will be able to exchange best practices, share innovative teaching methodologies, and collectively address challenges related to digital teaching and learning, further enhancing the effectiveness of the digital learning ecosystem.