The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) is a

United Nations Organization to promote international corporation and implementation of

international agreements.
The International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century to UNESCO,
headed by Jacques Delors, identified learning throughout life as a key to meet the challenges of
the 21st century.
One of the successful reports is Jacques Delor’s “Learning: A Treasure From Within”
that highlighted the need for individuals to "learn how to learn” to cope with the rapid changes
and challenges of the present and the future.
It describes a holistic approach to learning that encompasses more than what occurs in the
classroom. This is referred to as lifelong learning - a philosophy that involves the development of
knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values throughout one’s life—from early childhood through
adulthood.
The report presented a framework that organized lifelong learning into four
pillars: learning to know, learning to live together, learning to do, and learning to be. The four
pillars of learning are seen as fundamental principles for reshaping 21st century education.
And the conclusion of this report
It is to view learning as a lifelong process and should be supported by the four pillars of
education.
The Paradigm and conceptual framework of the 2002 Basic education Curriculum then
adapted the UNESCO Commission on Education for the 21st Century which proposed that the
learning process should be based on four pillars of education.
These pillars are learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together, and learning
to be. Let us take a look at them one by one.

The first pillar Learning to KNOW pertains to the development of skills and knowledge
needed to function in this world e.g. formal acquisition of literacy, numeracy, critical thinking
and general knowledge.
It talks about the general knowledge individuals must acquire in order to become
intellectually competent.
This pillar of education also means learning to learn, when we come to know about the
basic concepts in this world, we would easily benefit from the opportunities education provides
throughout life.
It also aims to provide individuals with the cognitive tools required to better comprehend
the world and its complexities, and an adequate foundation for future learning.
AN ADEQUATE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE LEARNING, come to think of
this, when were in our first few years in school, they only introduced us the ABCs or the
alphabet and few of the numbers such as the 123s and so on. As we age and complete different
grade levels, these concepts begin to turn into complex forms, the ABCs now turn into words, to
phrases, and to sentences, the simple numbers become introduced to mathematical operations.
We can conclude that there are indeed advancements on the knowledge we take.
Again, the pillar learning to know is all about sufficing our brain with general knowledge
and ideas that would enable us to be literate and mentally competent as the never-ending changes
occur.

The second pillar, LEARNING TO DO is defined as the acquisition of applied skills

linked to professional success.
This pillar aims to provide individuals with the skills to effectively participate in the
global economy and society.
These include skills that are often linked to occupational success, such as vocational and
technical skills, apprenticeships, and leadership and management competencies.
Intelligence alone isn’t adequate enough to help an individual be truly effective in the 21st
century living that’s why these skills are needed to be obtained in order to become successful in
their chosen field or profession.
One of the types of skills mentioned is the technical skills. For example, if a teacher who
does not know about the slightest idea on ICT and is currently teaching in this era of technology,
especially during this pandemic where technology is rampantly used, will that teacher become
someone who is accurately effective? I guess not. Success is also far from that teacher’s reach.
That is probably why training of skills is provided in our curriculum and is needed to be
applied in this 21st century.
Truly, knowledge obtained is nothing unless practiced in daily life.
 Third pillar LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER talks about the development of social
skills and values such as respect and concern for others and the appreciation of cultural diversity.
This pillar also promotes acceptance of the differences between us people.
This pillar aims to develop individuals’ understanding of other people and an
appreciation of interdependence. Interdependence is defined as the dependence of two or more
people or things on each other.
Being alone in this period of time is definitely hard, thus, UNESCO encourages
individuals to hone their interpersonal skills to eventually be in sync with one another.
In our curriculum, we are trained to socialize and communicate with one another through
different means.
I also believe that having only one person whom you can trust is much better than being
alone.
As the famous saying goes, No man is an island. It wouldn’t really hurt asking for help at
least once in a while. We were born to form a strong bond with other people, after all.
This education also exposes individuals to the values implicit within human rights,
democratic principles, intercultural understanding and respect, and peace in society and human
relationships.
Women from other countries are branded as inferior beings. Afghanistan, the country
where the Talibans currently rule, women aren’t allowed to attend school. Racism has always
been an issue ever since long ago.
UNESCO simply aims to put an end to any kind of discrimination to other people by
educating us that all human beings are equal and we must treat one another in the same way
indiscriminately.
An example of this is the subject UCSP or understanding culture, society, and politics
which provides learners a better view of the world’s diversity.
Being literate and skilled won’t make us humanly better than anyone. UNESCO wants to
instill in our minds that values are as important as general knowledge and skills in this 21st
century.
Again, LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER aims for individuals and societies to live
in peace and harmoniously regardless of race, color, nationality and many other differences.

Since we already have the learning to know which provides knowledge for us to become
literate, learning to do that makes us become skilled and successful in our chosen careers, and
learning to live together that help us live harmoniously with one another, LEARNING TO BE
on the other hand is for the holistic development of ourselves.
The fourth pillar, Learning to be, is identified as the learning that contributes to a
person’s mind, body and spirit. These skills include creativity and personal delivery, acquired
through reading, the internet and activities such as sports and arts.
The activities in general promote holistic personal development for an all-round complete
person.
That is why we have different subjects that each enhances at least one aspect of our
selves.
We have ENGLISH that provides opportunity to find out what we are really good with, it
may be through written, oral or maybe both and eventually enhance those skills for self-
satisfaction and happiness.
UNESCO thinks that being happy and contented with oneself is one of the many things
we need in this life.
This pillar also aims to develop one’s personality and help act with greater autonomy,
judgment and personal responsibility.
Just by simply choosing wisely where to spend our money, we gradually develop our
decision-making skills.
The events in our daily lives slowly mold us to become what we want to be.
For example, while answering the modules, we come across questions about why we
came up with our course, as we respond to it; we get to know ourselves better. We get to find out
what we really desire to be, the version of ourselves that we want to achieve and see in the
future.
Another aim is to provide individuals with the self-analytical and social skills to develop
to their fullest potential. 
When we reflect on the events that happen in our lives, we have this kind of resolution
that we yearn to do, such as changing our attitudes, time management and many other things that
build up our personality, which implies that we slowly improve ourselves which is connected
with the holistic development we should achieve.
The activities simply intend to bring out the best in us.
Learning to be guides us to become the superior version of ourselves and to achieve self-
contentment.
 In the more recent years, UNESCO came up with the fifth pillar of education
This pillar is named as Learning to TRANSFORM ONESELF AND SOCIETY which
means when individuals and groups gain knowledge, develop skills and acquire new values as a
result of learning, they are equipped with tools and mindsets for creating lasting change in
organizations, communities and societies.
Since there are new gender communities that continuously arise, judgments from the
mass is expected. This pillar made it possible for the LGBTQ+ community to be treated equally
as any other gender community that exists since they are also human beings just like any of us.
This is also the reason why we have the pride month for the persons of the third sex.
Our curriculum instills us values and morals that enables us to fully comprehend and take
action to the latest happenings in the society and in our environment.
From name itself, TRANSFORM ONESELF AND SOCIETY, we can infer that this is
all about being a better person not solely for self-purposes but also for the sake of everything
around us including people and the environment.
This pillar is similar to learning to live together but it is a bit more improved and
modified specifically to help students capable of adapting the rapid changes that occur in our
environment and the different societies we belong to.
Indeed, we can only change the world around us by changing our very own selves and
becoming an epitome of the improvement we want to see.

RECAP