How Can We Achieve Quality Education Across Nations?

When asked what one of the most important factors in helping alleviate poverty in nations is, it’s the accessibility of quality education. Quality Education is the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) number 4. Its goal is to “provide equal access to affordable vocational training, eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and achieve universal access to quality higher education.” While it is obviously necessary for every nation to prioritize, there are still a lot of gaps to be filled.

As of 2023, 272 million children are out of school due to various reasons. Most families cannot afford to send their children to school, some face societal norms where child marriage is a more viable option than education, while others simply do not see the point in it. The UN has its own goals of achieving SDG #4 in 2030, and while it does so, we attempt to answer: What are some of the factors to achieve quality education among nations?

 

 

How education contributes to sustainable development

They always say that education is the key to one’s success. Many interpret it as simple as: if one is educated, they can get a job, provide for their families, and break the cycle of poverty. This is true, but more importantly, quality education frees one’s mind, allows them to think for themselves and achieve “success” however that may look like for an individual. A study also showed that if everyone completed at least secondary education, poverty around the world could be reduced by 50%. If a person has enough education, they are more likely to find better employment opportunities and less likely to be taken advantage of.

An educated society is also a peaceful society. It helps individuals hold various truths and perspectives at the same time, allowing them to foster tolerance and understanding of each other’s differences. In talking about sustainability, one must also recognize the ever-changing ways we approach education in various contexts. The next section will cite various factors nations can do to achieve Quality Education.

 

 

Factors To Achieve Quality Education

1. Make education free and compulsory

Poor families are in constant survival mode. When food is scarce, and there is no money to pay the hospital bill when one of the family members is sick, investing in one’s education ranks low on their list of priorities. In many extremely poor families, sending their children to school means more expenses to the family, despite them knowing the higher chance of their children living a life out of poverty through it.

When education is free and compulsory, there is no excuse not to send children to school. It is no longer a financial burden, and there may be consequences to the parents of out-of-school youth.

2. Increase the number of teachers in schools

A school without teachers is just a building full of children. Many schools around the world suffer from teacher shortages due to various factors. In rural China, many teachers prefer working in urban areas due to better pay, benefits, and accessibility of location. Moreover, China is home to many regional languages, so fluency in these languages is a must. Hence, volunteer teachers can come in handy.

When schools lack teachers, classrooms can become overcrowded. Students may be prone to losing focus and support in understanding lessons. When there are more teachers and smaller class sizes, they can understand students’ strengths, weaknesses, and supplementary needs. Moreover, smaller sizes can help reduce teacher burnout and help them deliver instruction materials more effectively and efficiently.

3. Improve basic school infrastructure

Learning environment is one of the more understated factors that contribute to receiving quality education. The bare minimum standard must include safe, sturdy buildings with access to electricity, clean water, toilets, desks, libraries, and learning materials. However, some places even lack these foundational criteria.

When students learn in a well-supported environment, they can easily focus on the lessons at hand. It helps regulate their mood and turn the entire environment’s context into a learning space.

4. Embrace digital transformation

Times are rapidly changing, and so are the modes of learning. With most of the world adhering to digital transformation, students must also keep up with the changes and understand the world we are currently living in. However, despite a 90% high median rate for internet usage, there is a gap between access and the ability to navigate the internet properly and safely.

Moreover, learning is becoming more flexible and interactive. There are asynchronous sessions where students can access learning materials digitally without being in the same time zone or place as their teacher and classmates. No matter what shape or form new ways of learning may take, it is very important for every community to keep up with new technologies. After all, once they are out in the world and serving in various industries, they, too, cannot escape these technological changes.

 

 

Conclusion

Quality education is one of the pillars of a sustainable community. It helps unleash the full potential of an individual by encouraging them to make informed decisions and build a life that they want. However, in various parts of the world, achieving quality education can be a structural problem. Once education is compulsory, schools have more educators, are built on quality and safety standards, and are embracing digital transformation—quality education for all is attainable.

The Work We Do

We support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal number 4 through various programs that we offer here at Captivating International. We send rural Chinese schools newly-graduated teachers for our Send A Volunteer Teacher, help bridge learning gaps among out-of-school girls in Nepal through our Captivating Village Development Program, and support the schooling of girls from the slums area in the Philippines through our Manila Slum Program. To help achieve quality education in these parts of the world, you may consider donating today to our cause.