Amid accelerated transformations in education, driven by constant technological advances and new social demands, World Education Day invites reflection on the challenges and future of the segment. Celebrated on April 28, the date was established at the World Education Forum in Dakar in 2000, with the aim of promoting education as a fundamental human right.

In this context, topics such as educational technology, mental health, socio-emotional development, teacher training and the impact of reading on learning gain strength in the public debate. Next, experts from different areas of education analyze how these changes have been incorporated into practice and how to adapt to innovation with the aim of improving the quality of teaching and training children and young people for the future. Check it out!

1. Attention to digital is redoubled

The Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents (Law No. 15,211/2025), in force since March 17, establishes guidelines for the protection of children and adolescents in the digital environment, addressing topics such as privacy, security, respect in interactions and conscious use of technologies. Although the legislation focuses on the regulation of digital products and services, in the educational context, it reinforces the importance of practices already consolidated in schools.

“Education for digital citizenship needs to be worked on in an intentional and continuous way throughout the students’ trajectory. In our school, through classes and projects integrated into the curriculum, especially in the areas of Educational Technology (EdTech) and Socio-Emotional Learning (Social Emotional Learning), topics such as data protection, responsible use of digital platforms, prevention of cyberbullying, use of image and ethical behavior in the online environment are addressed”, explains Maria Eduarda Menezes, EdTech coordinator at Beacon School, located in Vila Leopoldina, in São Paulo.

Furthermore, the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC) included, as a strengthening of competence 5 – Digital Culture, the mandatory complement of computing in basic education, focused on the development of critical and digital thinking. For Victor Haony, pedagogical advisor at Mind Makers, this represents a milestone for Brazilian education as it recognizes that digital education is as essential as reading, writing and calculating.

Still according to the expert, this implementation contributes to the formation of citizens who understand technology, instead of using it just as a tool. “In practice, we call it digital literacy and computational thinking, that is, students will be ‘literate’ on the machine to understand it and replicate logical structures in everyday scenarios, solving problems and understanding how the machine works, not just using it without a specific purpose”, he highlights.

2. Socio-emotional development impacts more than one area

Socio-emotional skills concern the ability to mobilize knowledge, skills and attitudes to solve problems and face challenges effectively. They involve aspects such as self-knowledge, self-management, social awarenessrelationship skills and responsible decision-making, being fundamental for the integral development of students.

“For these skills to be effectively developed, it is necessary to go beyond the specific teaching of isolated skills, promoting experiences that integrate attitudes, values ​​and practices into everyday school life”, says Fabiana Santana, pedagogical advisor for the socio-emotional education program at SOMOS Educação, Líder em Mim.

According to her, strengthening socio-emotional skills has a direct impact on academic performance, school retention and student engagement. “Skills such as self-control, perseverance, empathy and effective communication favor concentration, participation in the classroom and the development of more efficient study strategies”, he highlights.

Emotionally competent students, indicates the pedagogical advisor, deal better with stress, frustration and learning challenges, which is reflected in better academic results and greater motivation to learn. Furthermore, socio-emotional development contributes to more positive and welcoming school environments, reducing conflicts, strengthening the sense of belonging and expanding students’ bonds with the school.

3. Bilingualism grows as a trend

English has never been so present in our daily lives. It is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people use the language worldwide, and it is official in more than 60 countries. In Brazil, however, only 5% of the population speaks the language fluently, according to data from the British Council. This gap has a direct impact on both the job marketin which fluency can represent up to 61% of a salary increase, according to research by Catho, as well as in academic and cultural life, since a representative portion of the world’s scientific and artistic production is disseminated in English.

With this scenario, experts argue that the motivation to learn English must go beyond the classroom, bringing students closer to real situations in which the language becomes indispensable. For Maria Daiana, Star Reference at Colégio Excelsior and pedagogical advisor for the Eduall bilingual education program, the school plays a fundamental role in this process.

“The biggest reason to learn English is that it connects you to the world. Whether for entertainment, work or hobbieswe need this global language to establish authentic and true communication between cultures and nations. Mastery of English impacts all areas of life. We live in an increasingly connected world, and the English language is the key to keeping up with this evolution”, he states.

4. Teacher training is the starting point for transforming education

The training and ongoing training of teachers are central pillars to guarantee quality education, capable of transforming students’ potential into consistent academic and professional trajectories. More than mastering content, contemporary educators need to be prepared to apply active methodologies, critically integrate technologies and promote a welcoming, challenging and meaningful learning environment.

“This training process allows the teacher to act as a mediator of knowledge, stimulating critical thinking, autonomy and socio-emotional development of students. Investing in teacher training, therefore, is investing directly in the construction of educational experiences more effective, aligned with the demands of the 21st century and committed to the integral training of subjects”, comments Aline Castro, pedagogical director of the pH Education System.

In a scenario marked by accelerated technological changes and new cognitive demands, there is a growing understanding that learning depends not only on the content taught, but also on the way in which knowledge is constructed. The organization of the method, the clarity of the steps and the encouragement of reasoning are factors that directly influence students’ engagement and confidence — especially in mathematics, a subject that often concentrates emotional and pedagogical challenges throughout their school career.

For Jalman Lima, Academic Business manager at Casio Educação, the reflection proposed by World Education Day necessarily involves reviewing teaching practices. “The date invites us to reflect not only on access to education, but on the quality of learning we are offering. When methods value understanding and process, mathematics is no longer seen as an obstacle and begins to fulfill its role as an essential tool for students’ education”, he states.

6. Reading as a basis for development

For Suria Scapin, editor at Leiturinha, a children’s book club, “literary reading awakens curiosity and favors the development of critical autonomy and emotional repertoire in readers of any age. In the case of children, reading acts as an organic learning tool, allowing knowledge to be absorbed through enjoyment and in a fluid way. Illustrations also play a fundamental role in this process, as they add narrative layers that dialogue with the text.”

It is important to highlight, explains the professional, that deeper learning occurs precisely when the narrative does not try to teach, but when it opens up space for a active readingwhich allows interpretations and questions. “This approach respects the intelligence of children and their ability to construct meaning”, he states.

7. Importance of the educator

Esther Carvalho, general director of Colégio Rio Branco, summarizes: “learning to know continues to be fundamental, but it adds to other essential dimensions: learning to be, to coexist and learning to learn to build meaning and persevere in an increasingly complex world”.

According to her, education needs to go beyond the transmission of content, forming critical, autonomous individuals prepared to deal with the constant transformations in society. “Given this scenario, World Education Day reinforces the urgency of recognizing the social value of schools and educators”, he states.

She also highlights the importance of education in Brazil and the central role of teachers in this process. “In a country like Brazil, marked by inequalities, but also by enormous transformative power, it is essential to invest not only in structure, but in the prestige and appreciation of the teaching profession. The school is not just a space that prepares for the future, it is the place where the future is built daily. And ensuring that it fulfills this role requires collective commitment, a long-term vision and the conviction that educating is, above all, an act of shared responsibility and hope”, he concludes.

By André Taheiji