Sustainable Development Goal 4 or SDG4 for short, is one of the 17 goals established by the United Nations as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SDG 4 focuses specifically on education and aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
The targets associated with SDG4 are as follows:
4.1: Ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education.
4.2: Ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education.
4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.
4.4: Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
4.5: Eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for vulnerable groups.
4.6: Ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults achieve literacy and numeracy.
4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.
4.A: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability, and gender-sensitive and provide safe, nonviolent, inclusive, and effective learning environments.
4.B: 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 (ICT) programs.
4.C: 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.
SDG 4 recognises the importance of education as a fundamental human right and as a crucial driver of sustainable development. It calls for efforts to ensure equal access to quality education at all levels and to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed for personal development, employment, and active participation in society.