Education in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Education 2030 Framework for Action, adopted by 184 UNESCO Member States in November 2015, aims at mobilising all countries and partners around the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on education and its targets. It proposes ways of implementing, co-ordinating, financing and monitoring the programme to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
SDG 4 – Quality education
SDG4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes
4.2 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education
4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
4.a Build and upgrade education facilities that are child-, disability- and gender-sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
The Council of Europe
Article 17 of the Revised European Social Charter declares the right of children and young people to social, legal and economic protection: “children and young persons, taking account of the rights and duties of their parents, have the care, the assistance, the education and the training they need, in particular by providing for the establishment or maintenance of institutions and services sufficient and adequate for this purpose”. Children should be provided with free primary and secondary education as well as be encouraged in regular attendance at schools.
Article 12 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities guarantees the right to education for people belonging to minorities in order to facilitate the development of the abilities and personality of the child and to accommodate the linguistic, religious, philosophical aspirations of students and their parents:
The Parties shall, where appropriate, take measures in the fields of education and research to foster knowledge of the culture, history, language and religion of their national minorities and of the majority. (…). The Parties undertake to promote equal opportunities for access to education at all levels for persons belonging to national minorities.
The Council of Europe developed the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture for policy makers and educational practitioners in all sectors of education systems, from pre-school through primary and secondary schooling to higher education, including adult education and vocational education, in ways that are coherent, comprehensive and transparent.
The Council of Europe’s Youth sector strategy 2030 has been assigned with developing standards and resources for strengthening the quality and recognition of non-formal education programmes, and extending the attractiveness of youth work for the benefit of wider populations of young people. The youth sector is also expected to extend capacity building and resources for youth organisations to provide human rights education and advocate access to rights6.
Plein la Bobine – France
Plein la Bobine is an International Film Festival for Young Audiences, held annually in the Massif du Sancy, in the Auvergne region in France. Between festivals, the organisation runs year-round educational activities related to the cinema for children in the locality. Schools can apply to participate in different ways – for example, as members of ‘The School Jury’, children can vote for their favourite short film; they can join the ‘Press classroom’, and report on the festival; or they can join the ‘Programme Classroom’, and help to build part of the programme for the festival. Further information can be found on their website
