Monitoring SDG4: Education for sustainable development

Education for sustainable development and global citizenship is a response to the challenges of a planet that is increasingly interconnected but whose future is at stake. Yet COVID-19 has revealed education systems’ failures to pursue the ideals of solidarity and multilateralism, and growing inequality within and between countries raises moral concerns. The world has witnessed many responses in the opposite direction, from vaccine nationalism to xenophobic policies and the spread of discriminatory beliefs. COVID-19 has also put health literacy at the centre of attention.

Notwithstanding the centrality of education in treaties, covenants and agreements, the international community has yet to recognize the full potential of education as a catalyst for development. While many national governments have increased their commitment to and support for education since 2000, its emphasis among donors and in many countries remains vulnerable to shifting conditions — financial and otherwise.