For the first time, Ukraine has become one of 12 countries in the world to join the UNESCO Education Quality Steering Committee—a global governing body that coordinates progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. In the Committee, Ukraine will represent the entire Eastern Europe region, alongside Slovakia and the Council of Europe.
Ukraine’s membership in the Committee spans 2026–2027. This opens opportunities to shape decisions on global education development, strengthen partnerships, and attract more support for Ukrainian education. Ukraine will be represented in the Committee by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi, and First Deputy Minister Yevhen Kudriavets.
“Recognition of Ukraine at this level strengthens our country’s voice in shaping global education policy. We have consistently demonstrated the development of Ukrainian education despite the war, systematically advocating for these results internationally and building partnerships. It is this sustained and high-quality work that preceded Ukraine’s inclusion in the UNESCO Steering Committee,” said Minister Oksen Lisovyi.
“The UNESCO Education Quality Steering Committee is formed by 12 countries from six global regions. The Eastern Europe region is represented by only two countries. We succeeded in ensuring that Ukraine is one of them. This significantly strengthens our country’s position internationally, opens opportunities for new partnerships, and, accordingly, attracts investments for the benefit of Ukrainian students and teachers,” said First Deputy Minister Yevhen Kudriavets.
Ukraine’s entry into the UNESCO Education Quality Steering Committee is an important step toward enhancing its international role and recognizing its experience in developing education even under wartime conditions. This participation ensures Ukraine’s full involvement in shaping global education policy and determining strategic priorities for education development and financing worldwide. It also allows Ukraine to monitor progress toward SDG 4 and contribute to goal-setting beyond 2030, exchanging experiences and best practices with other countries.
The UNESCO Education Quality Steering Committee brings together 28 participants representing the global education community. Its membership includes 12 countries representing six world regions: Western Europe and North America, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Arab States. In addition to countries, regional intergovernmental organizations, multilateral international organizations, donors, civil society, education organizations, youth and student representatives, and the private sector and foundations participate in the Committee’s work.
