What is Humanising pedagogy?

A humanising pedagogy intentionally emphasises the importance of recognizing and respecting each person's humanity and contextual prior knowledge and understanding. It promotes awareness and action regarding social justice issues, whilst creating a teaching and learning environment that allows individuals to fully realise their potential and feel empowered by the knowledge they acquire to make change in themselves and the world.

Introduction to the

Humanising Pedagogy Commitments

“we need a new social contract for education that can repair injustices while transforming the future… This new social contract must be grounded in human rights and based on principles of non-discrimination, social justice, respect for life, human dignity and cultural diversity. It must encompass an ethic of care, reciprocity, and solidarity. It must strengthen education as a public endeavour and a common good.” 

UNESCO, 2021.

International education is crucial to shaping more just and sustainable futures. To support learning communities with the transformative work needed to determine a new social contract that humanises, decolonises and indigenises international education two sets of research-informed Humanising Pedagogy Commitments are presented here for schools to adopt. By providing guidance for both educators and institutions, the Humanising Pedagogy Committee aspires to renew international education to become culturally sustaining spaces where every learner’s dignity is upheld and identity can flourish. 

While each of the following Educator and Institution-wide Commitments are worthy of individual attention, the power of engaging with both commitments is undeniable. Prioritising educators’ capability building enhances learning and teaching practices, however without supportive school systems and structures the achievement of collective teacher efficacy will be hindered. The development of institution-wide learning ecosystems that humanise pedagogy outline how a school has shared commitment, cultures of accountability and productive systems that support sustainable learning and teaching practices, however without educators that have the mindsets and skill sets to meet a school’s aspirations progress will again be hindered. 

Therefore, the Humanising Pedagogy Committee presents both Educator and Institution-wide Commitments to support holistic transformation that each international school is strongly encouraged to contextualise by:

• establishing one’s purpose, renewed mission and commitment to Humanising Pedagogy,

• adopting this guidance to meet the needs of your school’s culture and localised context,

• and prioritising one’s growth and development in this area by engaging in reflexive practice that asks: Where am I now? Where do I want to go? What are my next steps?