Sustainable Development Goals 4- Education 2030

Sustainable Development Goals 4- Education 2030

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an inter-governmental commitment and “a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity”. It comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are “integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental”; and demonstrate the scale and ambition of the new universal Agenda. They result from what is arguably the most inclusive process of consultation in the history of the United Nations, reflecting substantive input from all sectors of society, all actors of the international community and all parts of the world. All Member States, the entire UN system, experts and a cross-section of civil society, business and, most importantly, millions of people from all corners of the globe, have committed themselves to this comprehensive agenda seeking to address globally-shared concerns and to promote the public good.

How is education articulated in the 2030 Agenda?

Sustainable Development Goal 4: Education is central to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Within the comprehensive 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, education is essentially articulated as a stand-alone goal (SDG4) with its 7 outcome targets and 3 means of implementation.

Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Education-related targets across the SDGs: Education in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is not restricted to SDG4. Education, is specifically mentioned in targets of the five goals listed below, but also linked to almost all of the other SDGs in one way or another:

1.     Health and Well-being

 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes .

2.     Gender Equality

Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee women aged 15-49 years access to sexual and reproductive health care, information and education

3.     Decent Work and Economic Growth

 By 2030 substantially reduce the proportion of  youth not in employment, education or training

4.     Responsible Consumption & Production

By 2030 ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature

5.     Climate Change Mitigation

Improve education, awareness raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning

 Principles of SDG4 :  

1. Education is a fundamental human right and an enabling right. To fulfil this right, countries must ensure universal access to inclusive and equitable quality education and learning, leaving no one behind. Education shall aim at the full development of the human personality and promote mutual understanding, tolerance, friendship and peace.

2. Education is a public good. The state is the main duty-bearer in protecting, respecting, and fulfilling the right to education. As a shared societal endeavour, education implies an inclusive process of public policy formulation and implementation2. Civil society, teachers and educators, the private sector, communities, families, youth and children all have important roles in realizing the right to quality education. The role of the state is essential in setting and regulating standards and norms.

3. Gender equality is inextricably linked to the right to education for all. Achieving gender equality requires a rights-based approach that ensures that girls and boys, women and men not only gain access to and complete education cycles, but are empowered equally in and through education.

What are the key features of SDG4-Education 2030?

A universal agenda for all countries: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is framed by 5 key objectives: (1) People - to end poverty and hunger; (2) Planet - to protect the planet from degradation (3) Prosperity - to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives (4) Peace - to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies and (5) Partnership - to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda through a revitalized  global partnership for sustainable development. The concern for sustainable development and its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental - is at the heart of the 2030 global development agenda. This globally shared concern for sustainability implies a universal agenda relevant to all societies regardless of income and/or development status. This can be understood as a universality of principles (human rights), universality of reach (focus on equity and inclusion), and universality of country coverage.