Lesson 3: Sustainable Development Goals

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

• At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries— developed and developing— in a global partnership

Why is education a top UN (United Nations) priority?

Many societal issues—poverty, inequality, conflict—stem from ignorance or lack of knowledge.

• Education empowers people to make informed decisions and build better futures.

Millenium Development Goals

1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

2. Achieve Universal Primary Education

3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

4. Reduce Child Mortality

5. Improve Maternal Health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases

7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability

8. Global Partnership for Development

Reasons/Hindrances to Access to Education

• Poverty: Can't afford tuition, transport, and materials

• Armed Conflict: Disrupts schooling and endangers safety

• Inequalities: Based on gender, disability, ethnicity, etc.

• Oppression: Some groups are deliberately denied education

• Corruption: Misuse of funds meant for schools

SDG 4: Quality Education

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

Target 4.1 Free Primary and Secondary Education

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

Target 4.2: Equal Access to Quality Pre-Primary Education

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.

Target 4.3: Equal Access to Affordable Technical Vocational and Higher Education

By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.

Target 4.4 Increase the Number of People with Relevant Skills to Financial Success

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.

Target 4.5 Eliminate All Discrimination in Education

By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations.

Target 4.6 Universal Literacy and Numeracy

By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.

Target 4.7 Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship

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 non-violence, global-citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

Target 4.8 Build and Upgrade Inclusive and Safe Schools

Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability, and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive, and effective learning environments for all.

Target 4.9 Expand Higher Education Scholarships for Developing Countries

By 2030, 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.

Target 4.10 Increase the Supply of Qualified Teachers in Developing Countries

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.

Seven Outcome Targets of SDG 4

1. Universal primary and secondary education

2. Early childhood development and universal pre-primary education

3. Equal access to technical/vocational and higher education

4. Relevant skills for decent work

5. Gender equality and inclusion

6. Universal youth literacy

7. Education for sustainable development and global citizenship