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4th - 6th Nov, 2025
CO - CONVENOR
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Event Overview
The School Leadership Matters Summit, co-convened by Global School Leaders (GSL) and UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, is a one-of-a-kind virtual convening bringing together school leaders, policymakers, researchers, and education partners from across the Global South. Over the course of three days, participants will explore how empowering school leaders drives meaningful change in teaching, learning, and equity.
Through panels, interactive sessions, and regional spotlights, the summit bridges data and lived experience—amplifying voices from Latin America, Africa, and Asia to shape the global conversation on education leadership.
Because when we invest in school leaders, we strengthen entire systems.
SUMMIT DAY 1 | 4th November 2025 | 11:00 AM GMT Onwards
Grounding the Conversation
Understanding the landscape – challenges, resilience, and systems that
shape leadership.
Summit Opening
11:00 AM GMT
60 MINS
A keynote conversation framing the urgency of investing in school leadership, weaving insights from global research and real-world stories to set the tone for the 2025 Summit.
When Data Speaks - Bridging Evidence and Experience
12:15 PM GMT
60 MINS
What do data and lived experiences together reveal about the realities of leading schools in the Global South? This session connects research findings with voices from the field.
Systems That Strengthen School Leadership
1:15 PM GMT
60 MINS
What does it take for leadership to flourish? Explore how autonomy, trust, and supportive ecosystems can empower school leaders, and what happens when those systems are missing.
SUMMIT DAY 2 | 5th November 2025 | 11:00 AM GMT Onwards
Deep Dive:
Leadership in Action
Big Challenges, Bold Leadership:
School Leadership Driving Early Childhood Education Development (ECED), Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) & Gender Equity
Leaders as Enablers of
Early Learning
11:00 AM GMT
50 MINS
Strong beginnings start with strong leadership. This session looks at how ECED leaders build inclusive, community-driven environments that support every child’s early learning journey.
The Role of School Leaders
in Strengthening FLN
12:00 PM GMT
50 MINS
How do school leaders drive foundational learning amid limited resources, multilingual classrooms, and testing pressures? Hear stories of innovation and persistence from across the Global South.
School Leaders as
Champions of Gender Equity
1:00 PM GMT
50 MINS
Women lead the majority of classrooms but too few schools. This conversation explores how gender norms shape who leads, how they lead, and how inclusive leadership models are transforming systems.
SUMMIT DAY 3 | 6th November 2025 | 11:00 AM GMT Onwards
The Leadership We Need: Voices, Ideas, and Action
On the final day, the stage opens to partners, practitioners, researchers, school leaders, and beyond, to share emerging ideas, evidence, and lived realities.
Anchor Question: If we want every child to thrive, what must change in how we support school leaders?
Regional Focus:
Latin America
11:00 AM GMT
60 MINS
Set of sessions, each a response to the anchor question, designed to spark ideas, share evidence, and open space for dialogue.
Regional Focus:
Africa
12:15 PM GMT
60 MINS
Set of sessions, each a response to the anchor question, designed to spark ideas, share evidence, and open space for dialogue.
Regional Focus:
South Asia/ South East Asia
1:15 PM GMT
60 MINS
Set of sessions, each a response to the anchor question, designed to spark ideas, share evidence, and open space for dialogue.
SUMMIT DAY 1 | 4th November 2025 | 11:00 AM Onwards
Grounding the Conversation
Building resilient schools through excellent leadership
Opening/Launch
00:00 EST
60 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
Evidence & Experience –
The Real Story of School Leadership
00:00 EST
45 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
Systems & Support for Leadership
00:00 EST
60 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
SUMMIT DAY 2 | 5th November 2025 | 11:00 AM Onwards
Deep Dive:
Leadership in Action
Big Challenges, Bold Leadership: School Leadership Driving ECED, FLN & Gender Equity
"Leading Early: Why ECED Begins with Leadership"
00:00 EST
50 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
"The Learning Mandate:
Leadership for FLN Equity"
00:00 EST
50 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
"Leadership as Care: Gender, Power, and Possibility"
00:00 EST
50 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
SUMMIT DAY 3 | 6th November 2025 | 11:00 AM Onwards
Building the Next Chapter of School Leadership
Partners, practitioners, coalitions, school leaders, and ecosystem leaders take the stage to spotlight emerging ideas, evidence, and lived realities.
"Leading Early: Why ECED Begins with Leadership"
00:00 EST
50 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
"The Learning Mandate:
Leadership for FLN Equity"
00:00 EST
50 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
"Leadership as Care: Gender, Power, and Possibility"
00:00 EST
50 MINS
OPENING REMARKS
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Manos Antoninis, UNESCO GEM Report
Camila Pereira,
Global School Leaders
Participating Organizations
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