Embedding SDG4 in National Education Planning

Abstract

In September 2015 the World adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The fourth SDG focuses on education uniting a coherent set of interrelated targets to ensure quality education for all and equal learning opportunities throughout life. SDG4 goes beyond a mere expansion of the scope and coverage of the Education for All agenda by placing learning and equity at the core of global education discourse. This requires rethinking education and envisioning a new construct of education around lifelong and life-wide learning, and embedding SDG4 into national education planning. According to a survey conducted by UNESCO in 2016 to gauge the readiness of sub-Saharan African countries in view of national SDG4 integration: a) important data, policy and capacity gaps need to be addressed in meeting the new vision of quality education and learning for all; b) national planning cycles and effective sector dialogue mechanisms at the country level present important opportunities. Building on existing systems to progressively integrate prioritized SDG4 targets and relevant strategies and indicators into national education sector plans and their M&E frameworks will be of critical importance.