New data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) show that there are still about 262 million – or one out of every five – children, adolescents and youth between the ages of 6 and 17 out of school. The figure rises to one in three children out of school in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
I am looking forward to this week’s WISE event in New York, which will bring together practitioners and thought-leaders determined to empower learners for future challenges. How? By innovating inside and outside the classroom to help current and future generations reach their full potential.
As part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), countries have pledged to “build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. In particular, SDG Target 9.5 calls upon them to encourage innovation and substantially increase the number of researchers, as well as public and private spending on R&D.
Make your voice heard via an online consultation about the new Global Education Data Portal (GEDP), which is being developed by the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS). It will be a unique resource centered on the needs of its users, a one-stop shop for the best possible data on education.
On Saturday, the world celebrated International Literacy Day. And indeed there was much to celebrate, with literacy rates continuing to rise from one generation to the next, remarkable progress on literacy among youth, in particular, and a steady narrowing of gender gaps. Half a century ago, almost one quarter of youth worldwide lacked the most basic literacy skills, falling to less than 10% in 2016.
Learn more about SDG 4 Indicators 4.a.1, 4.b.1 and 4.c.1
SDG 4 indicator 4.7.1 reflects the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development
So far, this series of blogs on the data needed to monitor progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on education has focused predominantly on indicators that explore educational outcomes and achievements for individuals, and the components that must be in place to ensure a quality education for all. But when we come to Target 7, we see a marked shift in perspective.
SDG 4 indicator 4.6.1 shows the proportion of youth and adults with functional literacy and numeracy skills
Taken together, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a ‘recipe’ for countries to be productive and prosperous, resulting in populations that are well-educated and well-equipped for employment in the 21st century.
Skill development is a critical part of preparing for work in the future – even for jobs that do not yet exist. It goes without saying that a child who cannot read, write or perform at least simple mathematics with proficiency will be poorly equipped as an adult to excel in the technology-driven industries of the future.