EAR Architecture for Education Programme and History

The Programme and its History

UNESCO's Educational Buildings and Furniture Programme

UNESCO has accumulated vast experience in the field of research, planning, design, construction, management and maintenance of educational buildings and furniture for all educational levels. Through its Architecture for Education Units in Paris, Bangkok, Dakar and Beirut, UNESCO helps Member States to address their school building concerns. (see Historical context for UNESCO's educational buildings and facilities programme)

Current programme priorities cover the following domains:

	Achieving the goal of basic education for all;
	Collaboration in formulation of national policies in respect of educational buildings, furniture and their maintenance, as well as in the definition of national norms and standards;
	Development and design of school furniture;
	Educational services in post-conflict situations;
	Designing safe and secure school buildings in natural disaster prone countries;
	Development of national capacities in strengthening school building services;
	Use of historic buildings for educational purposes.

UNESCO’s action in the area of school buildings and facilities is innovative on several accounts, as demonstrated first and foremost by the option taken to set up specialized operational units within other educational services, usually those responsible for educational policy and planning. A good educational planning policy can only produce results if an educational building policy is developed at the same time.

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UNESCO's Educational Buildings and Furniture Programme