Sustainable Development Goals SDGs Goal 4: Quality Education

What is SDGs Goal 4?

SDGs Goal 4 is “Quality Education,” with its mission statement being “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.

This goal has nine targets and 12 indicators measuring the world’s success in this aspect. For example, the targets include:

ensuring that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education;
ensuring equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education;
eliminating 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.

Women and girls are one of the groups that have more difficult access to education. For young women, the disadvantages in education translate into a lack of access to skills and limited opportunities in the labor market. Education is a key to escaping poverty. Quality education for all helps reduce inequalities and reach gender equality. Moreover, it is crucial to foster tolerance and more peaceful societies.

Due to the worldwide spreading of COVID-19, countries announced the temporary closure of schools, which impacted more than 91% of students globally. The UN estimates, about 1.6 billion children and youth were out of school amidst the pandemic.

Education in Japan

The majority of Japanese citizens consider education as particularly important in their life. The school curriculums are organized nationally and are often praised internationally for their high student performance. The Japanese government made preschool education free for all in 2019.

Japanese compulsory education is provided from elementary to middle school, up to 15 years of age. While the vast majority of students go on to high school, poverty creates education inequality, leaving those children from low-income families behind.

Bullying at school also is a big issue the nation must tackle. It threatens a child’s safety and self-worth, which can lead to school truancy, depression and even suicide. The number of bullying cases reported has been rising, and over 610,000 cases were reported for the 2019 school year. With schoolchildren having the second-worst mental well-being ranking out of 38 countries, society must take action to protect and nurture children.

SDGs Goal 4 in Japan

Fighting child poverty to eliminate education inequality in Japan

The impact poverty can have on education disparity is seen throughout Japan. In this article, we discuss “hidden educational costs” in Japan that hinder some children’s access to get higher education and a non-profit organization that provides support for those in need.

Fighting child poverty to eliminate education inequality in Japan

Japanese schools must intervene more effectively in bullying problems

For a long time, Japan has faced the problem of bullying at school, and its effects are overwhelming. Immediate effective bullying prevention should take place in the Japanese school system. This article explores Japan’s culture and school values that could offer a hint in seeking a solution.

Japanese schools must intervene more effectively in bullying problems

Free schools as a solution to school truancy in Japan

Truancy, which is another educational problem in Japan, could cut off access to quality education for children. This article takes a look at the backgrounds unique to Japan and the alternative education that some communities offer so that children can learn and thrive.

Free schools as a solution to school truancy in Japan