UNESCO

© PEPE PONT
Education for the 21st Century
Education is a basic human right and the foundation for sustainable, inclusive and just development.
In 2015, the international community adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with
17 goals. Education was given its own standalone goal, SDG 4 to: ‘Ensure inclusive and quality education
for all and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.’ Together with seven other UN agencies,
UNESCO has launched a new vision for education towards 2030. This vision is distinguished by its holistic
and humanist approach, which contributes to a new model of development, based on respect for life
and human dignity, equal rights, social justice, cultural diversity, international solidarity and shared
responsibility for a sustainable future.
This graphic
including parents of
students sitting at
a classroom in Kuri
Kuri Primary School,
in Dol Dol (Kenya)
was tweeted by
UNESCO to promote
lifelong learning
during the World
Education Forum
held in May.
22
The way forward
Worldwide 58 million children remain out
of school, most of them girls, and millions
of youth and adults are still denied the
benefits of education. In May, the World
Education Forum in Incheon (Republic
of Korea) adopted a vision for education
for the next 15 years which aims to
transform this situation and ensure that
all children, youth and adults have access
to inclusive, equitable quality education
and lifelong learning opportunities.
The Incheon Declaration was adopted by
the global education community, including
government ministers from more than
100 countries, NGOs and youth groups and
entrusted UNESCO to lead, coordinate and
be the focal point for education within
the overall Sustainable Development
Goal (SDG) coordination. The Declaration
calls for countries to provide inclusive,
equitable, quality education and lifelong
learning opportunities for all, and
underpins the e ducation goal and targets
of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. ‘This Declaration is a huge
step forward,’ said UNESCO Director-
General Irina Bokova. ‘It reflects our
determination to ensure that all children
and young people gain the knowledge
and skills they need to live in dignity,
to reach their potential and contribute
to their societies as responsible global
citizens. … It affirms that education is
the key to global peace and sustainable
development.’ In November, more than
70 ministers, and representatives of
184 Member States, the United Nations,
multilateral and bilateral agencies,
civil society, regional organizations,
the teaching profession, academia, young
people and the private sector adopted
the Education 2030 Framework for Action,
by acclamation. This is a roadmap for
governments and provides guidance for
the implementation of SDG 4. ‘Today, with
the Education 2030 Framework for Action,
governments from across the world have
agreed on how to translate a promise
on paper to change on the ground,’
Irina Bokova said.