The Role of Education in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Global Evidence Based Research Article

Abstract

Education under multiple global initiatives has been playing significant role in overall sustainable development in the era of knowledge economy and knowledge society. But, practical evidences have not been well noticed under each sustainable development goal. Accordingly, this paper explored the role of education for sustainable development (ESD) and Education (SDG-4) in achieving the seventeen and sixteen sustainable development goals (SDGs) respectively using qualitative research design and approach supported with quantitative evidences collected from secondary sources such as UN flagship reports from the UN system including the World Bank, compiled by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), publications compiled by Educate a Child (EAC), and other publications identified through internet searches, as well as searches of specific organizational websites. The finding of this paper revealed that education for sustainable development (ESD) can enable the achievement of the 17 SDGs by raising the awareness of the 17 goals in education settings; promoting critical and contextualized understanding of the SDGs; and mobilizing action towards the achievement of the SDGs. It also explored that enough quantitative facts and evidences have not been addressed in the UN reports and other sources about the role of education in SDG-9 (Resilient Infrastructure), SDG-14 (Life below Water), and SDG-17 (Partnership for the Goals). Despite these limited evidences, education primarily planned under SDG-4 plays great role in achieving each of the sustainable development goal. Investing on education is investing to achieve all the SDGs for people to transform themselves, their families, their communities, their nations and the world at large. For more elaborative role of education in achieving each of the SDGs, researchers and global reporters better to invest more effort in compiling facts of education under each sustainable development goal.