What it takes to achieve SDG 4: Quality Education

MANILA, Philippines — There is only one Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that has the unique power to allow society to achieve all the 17 SDGs agreed upon by all 193 United Nations member states.

That is SDG 4: Quality Education, which calls for “inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all,” elevating education as the top priority for nations who want to address the various social, economic, and environmental challenges they face.

Quality education is not just a goal; it’s a collective dream. It symbolizes the hope that every child, regardless of geography, gender, or background, can unlock their full potential.

READ: Governing education right

But to turn this dream into reality, we must recognize that achieving SDG 4 requires bold actions and the unified efforts of every sector of society.

Firstly, governments must create structures in our education systems that ensure that policies are cocreated with students, youth, and teachers, and not only handed to them already preformed.

Political leaders must possess high competence and relevant experience in the education sector, and develop evidence-based policies with experts from the academe and international organizations.

Governments also need to prioritize education in national budgets, with long-term funding strategies that are equity-based, propoor, and gender responsive, emphasizing the proper and transparent use of funds with strict monitoring and accountability mechanisms. Strong and unwavering political will can set the stage for widespread, lasting change.

Private sector alignment

Next, the private sector is uniquely positioned to bring innovation and resources to education, by strategically helping align curriculums with the demands of the modern and future labor market, including future-ready industries in sustainability and climate action.

Apprenticeships and mentorship programs can be extended by businesses, as well as provisions for low-cost or free access to digital tools and reliable internet connectivity, especially for remote or low-income communities.

The private sector can also help bridge the gap in education financing, since investing in education is not just an act of corporate responsibility, but also a prudent economic decision. A well-educated workforce leads to national economic prosperity.

Critical role

Civil society, including youth organizations, has a critical role in holding governments and businesses accountable for their educational commitments. The meaningful participation of young people in education governance continues to be a growing movement internationally with the establishment of youth advisory groups at the governmental level.

The SDG 4 Youth & Student Network of Unesco is the leading champion in amplifying the voices of young people in education decision-making. Its concrete and forward-thinking recommendations are comprehensively listed in the “Youth Declaration on Transforming Education” launched with the United Nations Secretary General at the 2022 Transforming Education Summit in New York City.

This week, the 6th Asia-Pacific Meeting on Education is happening, with private, public, and civil society sectors coming together to identify transformative actions and innovations that can accelerate progress toward the achievement of SDG 4, and strengthen multilateral, cross-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder partnerships in education reform.

Global cooperation

This regional event in Asia and the Pacific will feed directly into the Global Education Meeting happening this October 2024 in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Achieving SDG 4 requires such global cooperation. Cross-border collaboration can help share best practices, address common challenges, and birth innovative solutions to complex educational problems.

Together, society holds the key to unlocking a future where every child, regardless of where they are born, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to a better world.

We have the tools and the knowledge to make this dream a reality. But do we have the collective social and political will to rise to the challenge?

Ilan Enverga is an award-winning K-12 educator and international teacher trainer for education for sustainable development from the International School for Better Beginnings and Global Changemaker Schools, as well as youth representative on the United Nations SDG4-Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee and Asia-Pacific representative of the Unesco SDG4 Youth & Student Network.