4. Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
Why It Matters
Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development. Major progress has been made towards increasing access to education at all levels and increasing enrolment rates in schools particularly for women and girls. Basic literacy skills have improved tremendously, yet bolder efforts are needed to make even greater strides for achieving universal education goals. For example, the world has achieved equality in primary education between girls and boys, but few countries have achieved that target at all levels of education.
Facts & Figures
- Enrolment in primary education in developing countries has reached 91 per cent but 57 million children remain out of school
- More than half of children that have not enrolled in school live in sub-Saharan Africa
- An estimated 50 per cent of out-of-school children of primary school age live in conflict-affected areas
- 103 million youth worldwide lack basic literacy skills, and more than 60 per cent of them are women
Targets
• Ensure education for all, starting from basic education.
• Provide more opportunities for technical and vocational training to youth and adults so they can get better jobs.
• End inequality in educational opportunities between men and women, for children with disabilities, indigenous people and victims of conflict.
• Improve school facilities to provide a safe and positive environment for everyone.
• Increase the number of scholarships for vocational and technical training, either in a person’s home country or abroad.
• Increase the number of trained and qualified teachers.
• Promote education for sustainable development.
Take Action
- Recognise that keeping girls and boys in school from preschool to high school is essential for their development, and for society's.
- Volunteer as a tutor, whether you decide to help out in your community or change your life and volunteer to teach abroad; these actions help kids stay in school. You can also mentor persons with disabilities and special needs, who may not have access to education.
- Encourage youth to continue studying beyond high school so they can gain more skills that allow them to get decent jobs and be self-sufficient.
- Start a scholarship program for youth working in your sphere of influence.
- Ask our governments to place education as a priority in both policy and practice.
- Urge NGOs to partner with youth and other groups to foster the importance of education within local communities