Introduction
In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared January 24 as the International Day of Education. This day highlights the important role of education in building peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable societies. It also aligns directly with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which calls for quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Now, eight years on, the International Day of Education is still celebrated around the world as a time to think, rethink, and strengthen education systems globally. Every year, the day is marked with a theme that focuses on important educational issues and new challenges.
This year’s theme is:
“The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education.”
The theme shows that young people are not just learners but also active partners in shaping education systems. It highlights the value of youth voices, ideas, and experiences in creating education that is relevant, fair, and ready for the future.
The idea of youth co-creating education sits right at the heart of what we do at Skool Grind. We strongly believe young people should not only be prepared for the future but also actively involved in designing it.
Through our programs and activities, we create spaces for young people, especially students to explore entrepreneurship, leadership, creativity, and practical skills. We focus on including youth voices, encouraging participation, and helping young people reach their full potential beyond the classroom.
For us, “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education” is not just a theme, it reflects the work we do every day.
What Does it Mean to Co-create Education
Co-creating education means involving young people in decisions about how they learn. It is about moving beyond a one-way system where knowledge is simply delivered from teacher to student. Instead, it encourages collaboration where students contribute ideas, share feedback, and help shape learning environments.
This could look like students giving input on teaching methods, participating in school leadership, helping design learning programs, or leading peer-to-peer initiatives. Co-creation recognizes that students understand their learning needs better than anyone else because they experience the system every day.
Around the world, there are many examples of what happens when young people are actively involved in co-creating. A strong example is the RuutiBudjetti in Helsinki, Finland. In 2019, the program involved over 11,000 students aged 12–17 from more than 70 schools, giving young people real decision-making power over how public funds were used. Students worked in teams to develop project ideas, debated priorities, and voted on proposals that directly influenced their communities. They helped decide how €150,000 in youth funding was allocated and were also supported to implement the projects themselves.
The outcome was impactful youth-led initiatives, including an online safety campaign, environmental conservation activities, a youth-run café, and expanded summer job programs. These projects showed that when young people are trusted with responsibility, they don’t just contribute ideas, they deliver meaningful solutions that respond to real community needs.
At Skool Grind, we see this same principle reflected in our work across Sierra Leone. Through our Free Tech Skills Training for SSS3 Leavers, we engaged over 200 young people in hands-on learning after WASSCE, equipping them with practical skills in computer fundamentals, graphic design, and startup development. These programs were designed not just to teach, but to empower young people to shape their own career paths.
Our Innovation and Career Guidance Seminar in Kono District, held in partnership with DSTI, exposed students from underserved communities to emerging fields like data science, artificial intelligence, drone technology, and 3D printing, inviting them to imagine themselves as future innovators and contributors to the digital economy.
Similarly, our Career Expo for Secondary Schools, organized to mark the International Day of Education 2023, created a space where students actively engaged with universities, TVET institutions, and professionals. Rather than being told what to do next, students asked questions, explored options, and made informed decisions about their futures.
These examples clearly shows that when young people are trusted as contributors instead of treated as passive beneficiaries, they bring valuable ideas, creativity, and ownership to the process.
In the context of education, co-creation is about moving beyond a system where learning is designed for young people, to one that is designed with them. The declaration of January 24th as the International Day of Education was a major step in that direction.
The theme for 2026 highlights the crucial role of young people as active agents of change, partners, and architects in shaping future-ready and inclusive education systems.
Key aspects of the 2026 theme include:
– Youth as Co-Creators: Moving beyond viewing students as passive recipients to recognizing them as active designers of curricula and learning environments.
– Active Participation: Emphasizing the need for youth to be involved in policy-making, decision-making, and educational reform.
– Future-Ready Learning: Focusing on how education can adapt to rapid technological and social transformations, ensuring relevance for the next generation.
The Cost of Excluding Youth
While involving young people in co-creating education has clear benefits, ignoring their voices carries real consequences. When youth are excluded from decision-making, education systems risk becoming outdated, disconnected, and less effective. Students may find learning irrelevant to their daily lives, their interests, or their future career paths, which can lead to disengagement, lack of motivation, and even higher dropout rates.
Exclusion also limits innovation. Young people bring fresh ideas, creativity, and perspectives that adults may overlook. Without their input, education systems miss opportunities to evolve alongside society, technology, and the changing job market.
Additionally, when students feel unheard or
undervalued, it can weaken trust between learners and educators, reduce participation in school initiatives, and diminish the sense of ownership students have over their own learning.
In short, failing to involve youth comes at a cost, not just to the students themselves, but to the quality, relevance, and future-readiness of the entire education system. Co-creation is not just an option; it is a necessity for sustainable and meaningful learning.
Conclusion
The International Day of Education 2026 reminds us that young people are not just the beneficiaries of education, they are essential partners in shaping it. By involving youth in co-creating learning systems, we unlock their creativity, agency, and leadership potential, ensuring education is relevant, inclusive, and future-ready.
As we celebrate this day, let us commit to listening to youth voices, empowering them to contribute, and designing education systems with them and not just for them. Because when youth are included, everyone gains and the future becomes brighter for all.
