"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
- John Dewey
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
SDG 4 looks to provide children and young people with easy access to a quality education. Among its targets are free primary and secondary education, equal access to quality pre-primary education, affordable technical, vocational and higher education, elimination of all discrimination in education, universal literacy and numeracy, and education for sustainable development and global citizenship. The push to acheive these targets encourages the building and upgrading of inclusive and safe schools, the expansion of higher education scholarships for developing countries, and an increase in the supply of qualified teachers.
The University of Minnesota supports the United Nations’ vision for SDG 4 and is committing resources to align its teaching, research, and service to its blueprint. This work includes rigorous teacher training programs, and research on educational success strategies for all children so that they can meet the challenges of the 21st century.