SDGs and Education

In September 2015, 193 world leaders committed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs) to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet by 2030. Under SDG 4, the international community has pledged to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” This will require tremendous efforts on the part of all stakeholders, notably governments, donors, and international organizations.

Education is at the heart of the global development agenda, and, as we had hoped, the fourth goal on education is much more ambitious than its predecessor. The Goal 4 Targets for Quality Education, in general, seek to improve education through greater access and equity for all ages of learners as well as improved and safer learning space and expanded number of qualified teachers.

Goal 4 goes even further and through policy-level commitments, recognizes the importance of education in emergencies and the need to address the educational needs of children in conflict and crisis. Target 4.5 (Gender quality and inclusion), in particular, seeks to “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.” In addition, target 4.a (Effective learning environments) seeks to protect educational facilities from attack by providing safe learning environments. Targets 4.5 and 4.a ensure that children in crisis-affected areas are on the SDG4 agenda at national and global levels.

1 January 2016 Policy Document
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organziation (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Bank
UN Women

Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action

On 4 November 2015 in Paris, the international education community adopted the Education 2030 Framework for Action, the foundation that will anchor global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).

1 January 2018 Manual/Handbook/Guide United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organziation (UNESCO)

Quick Guide to Education Indicators for SDG 4

This guide serves as a quick reference on how to monitor progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education. It provides basic explanations of SDG 4 targets, their indicators, how they are created and where to find the information needed for these indicators.

1 July 2015 Project Brief United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Sustainable Development Goal 4 and Refugee Education

This brief provides a short introduction to SDG 4 and how it relates to education for refugees, as well as practical guidance on how to advocate for refugees in national education sector planning and management to achieve the education SDG 4.

1 July 2016 Report United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organziation (UNESCO)

Relationship between Sustainable Development Goal 4 and the Education 2030 Framework for Action

Sustainable Development Goal 4 is the education-related goal of the United National 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in September 2015. The Education 2030 Framework for Action, adopted in November 2015, provides a roadmap for achieving the 10 targets which constitute SDG4. This document is a summary of how the Framework for Action proposes to operationalise the targets of SDG4. 

1 January 2022 Report UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UNESCO-UIS)

Setting commitments: National SDG4 Benchmarks to Transform Education

Benchmark values define countries’ nationally determined contributions to the common education goal, using a concept embraced by the climate change sector. They enable the monitoring of progress to be context-specific, recognizing countries’ starting points and education sector plans, helping link their national education agendas with regional and global agendas. In 2021, two in three countries committed to 2025 and 2030 target values for at least some of the benchmark indicators.

1 January 2019 Manual/Handbook/Guide UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UNESCO-UIS)

How to produce and use the global and thematic education indicators: SDG 4 data digest

The 2019 edition of the SDG 4 Data Digest reinforces the need for the robust data that are crucial to reach the global targets for education. These targets are still achievable if the necessary political will is mobilised, backed by concrete resources. Education systems only function effectively if their strategies, approaches and funding are built on the solid foundations of data. The Digest aims to support countries as they strengthen these foundations to produce the data needed for international reporting, as well as for their own education priorities.

1 January 2023 Report UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UNESCO-UIS)

SDG4 scorecard progress report on national benchmarks: focus on early childhood

Three in four countries have submitted benchmarks, or national targets, to be achieved by 2025 and 2030 for at least some of seven SDG 4 indicators: early childhood education attendance, out-of-school rates, completion rates, gender gaps in completion rates, minimum proficiency rates in reading and mathematics, trained teachers and public education expenditure. This report provides the first annual snapshot of country progress towards these national targets.

1 January 2019 Report UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UNESCO-UIS)

SDG 4 data book: global education indicators 2019

This publication presents the global monitoring indicators used by countries and the international development community to monitor progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on education. The indicators were produced by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), based on the latest available data.

1 January 2017 Manual/Handbook/Guide United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organziation (UNESCO)

Unpacking Sustainable Development Goal 4: Education 2030

This guide, organized around a set of questions and answers to “unpack” SDG4, provides overall guidance for a deeper understanding of SDG4 within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in order to support its effective implementation.