UNESCO Launches 2025 Global Education Monitoring Report: "Learn to Eat Well"

UNESCO officially released its 2025 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report focusing on education and nutrition under the title "Learn to Eat Well" on March 26, 2025, in Paris. The comprehensive report examines how school health and nutrition programs impact learning outcomes worldwide.

The report highlights concerning trends in student health and well-being across educational institutions globally. According to UNESCO's findings, there are significant disparities in school nutrition policies, with many children in poorer countries missing out on essential health and nutrition support that could improve their academic performance.

Previous UNESCO research revealed that healthy, well-nourished children learn better and are more likely to lead fulfilling lives. The new report builds on this understanding, showing that while over 100 countries have implemented school vaccination programs and approximately half of primary schoolchildren worldwide receive school meals, comprehensive nutrition regulation remains inadequate in many regions.

The report also addresses broader student well-being concerns, noting that nearly a third of students globally report mental health challenges, with overall well-being declining over recent decades due to worsening sleep quality, social isolation, and financial stress.

UNESCO urges governments and development partners to prioritize learners' health and well-being as central to education policy, emphasizing the need for coordinated cross-sector approaches and increased financial commitments to ensure all children and adolescents can learn and thrive.