The agenda is “a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity”.
It comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
These goals are indivisible and encompass economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)
Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) is the education goal
It aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
Target 4.1
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
The provision of 12 years of free, publicly-funded, inclusive, equitable, quality primary and secondary education, of which at least nine years are compulsory, leading to relevant learning outcomes, should be ensured for all, without discrimination.
Target 4.2
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
The provision of at least one year of free and compulsory quality pre-primary education is encouraged, to be delivered by well-trained educators, as well as that of early childhood development and care.
By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university
It is imperative to reduce barriers to skills development and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), starting from the secondary level, as well as to tertiary education, including university, and to provide lifelong learning opportunities for youth and adults.
The provision of tertiary education should be made progressively free, in line with existing international agreements.
Target 4.4
By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship
Access:
Equitable access to TVET needs to be expanded while quality is ensured. Learning opportunities should be increased and diversified, using a wide range of education and training modalities, so that all youth and adults, especially girls and women, can acquire relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies for decent work and life.
Skills acquisition:
Beyond work-specific skills, emphasis must be placed on developing high-level cognitive and non-cognitive/transferable skills, such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, communication skills, and conflict resolution, which can be used across a range of occupational fields.
Target 4.5
By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations.
Inclusion and equity:
All people, irrespective of sex, age, race, colour, ethnicity, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property or birth, as well as persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples, and children and youth, especially those in vulnerable situations or other status, should have access to inclusive, equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
Vulnerable groups that require particular attention and targeted strategies include persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, and the poor.
Gender equality:
All girls and boys, women and men, should have equal opportunity to enjoy education of high quality, achieve at equal levels, and enjoy equal benefits from education.
Adolescent girls and young women, who may be subject to gender-based violence, child marriage, early pregnancy, and a heavy load of household chores, as well as those living in poor and remote rural areas, require special attention.
In contexts in which boys are disadvantaged, targeted action should be taken for them. Policies aimed at overcoming gender inequality are more effective when they are part of an overall package that also promotes health, justice, good governance, and freedom from child labour.
Target 4.6
By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.
The principles, strategies, and actions for this target are underpinned by the contemporary understanding of literacy as a continuum of proficiency levels in a given context.
It goes beyond the understanding of a simple dichotomy of ‘literate’ versus ‘illiterate’.
Therefore, action for this target aims at ensuring that by 2030, all young people and adults across the world should have achieved relevant and recognised proficiency levels in functional literacy and numeracy skills that are equivalent to levels achieved at successful completion of basic education.
Target 4.7
By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and nonviolence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
It is vital to give a central place to strengthening education’s contribution to the fulfilment of human rights, peace and responsible citizenship from local to global levels, gender equality, sustainable development, and health.
The content of such education must be relevant, with a focus on both cognitive and non-cognitive aspects of learning.
The knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes required by citizens to lead productive lives, make informed decisions and assume active roles locally and globally in facing and resolving global challenges can be acquired through education for sustainable development (ESD) and global citizenship education (GCED), which includes peace and human rights education, as well as intercultural education and education for international understanding.
Target 4. a
Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability, and gender sensitive and provide safe, non violent, inclusive, and effective learning environments for all
This target addresses the need for adequate physical infrastructure and safe, inclusive environments that nurture learning for all, regardless of background or disability status.
Target 4.b
By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries
Scholarship programmes can play a vital role in providing opportunities for young people and adults who would otherwise not be able to afford to continue their education.
Where developed countries offer scholarships to students from developing countries, these should be structured to build the capability of the developing country.
While the importance of scholarships is recognised, donor countries are encouraged to increase other forms of support to education.
In line with SDG 4, Education 2030 focuses on equity, inclusion, and quality. Scholarships should be transparently targeted at young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Target 4.c
By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States
Teachers are the key to achieving all of the SDG 4 targets.
It requires urgent attention, with a more immediate deadline, because the equity gap in education is exacerbated by the shortage and uneven distribution of professionally trained teachers, especially in disadvantaged areas.
As teachers are a fundamental condition for guaranteeing quality education, teachers and educators should be empowered, adequately recruited and remunerated, motivated, professionally qualified, and supported within well-resourced, efficient, and effectively governed systems.
THE FIVE OTHER SDGS WITH DIRECT REFERENCE TO EDUCATION
Health and well-being (SDG 3 target 3.7)
By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
Gender equality (SDG 5 target 5.6)
Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee women aged 15-49 years access to sexual and reproductive health care, information, and education
Decent work and sustainable growth (SDG 8 target 8.6)
By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training.
Responsible consumption & production (DG 12 target 12.8)
By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
Climate change mitigation (SDG 13 target 13.3)
Improve education, awareness raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
Sustainable Development Goal 5 is about Gender Equality and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015.
The official wording of SDG 5 is “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.
Progress towards targets is measured by indicators.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.
Goal 5 aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women in the public and private spheres and to undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources and access to ownership of property.
SDG 5 SEEKS TO:
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs)
Purpose of MDG
Drawn from the Millennium Declaration, adopted and agreed to by all Governments in 2000, the MDGs represent the commitments of United Nations Member States to reduce extreme poverty and its many manifestations: hunger, disease, gender inequality, lack of education and access to basic infrastructure, and environmental degradation.
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