GOAL 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning

SDG Progress and Industry Notes

Progress

The 2018 Report of the Secretary-General on Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, notes that: “Disparities in education along the lines of gender, urban-rural location and other dimensions still run deep, and more investments in education infrastructure are required particularly in LDCs.”

See Link 

SDG 4 will be reviewed during the 2019 UN High Level Political Forum.

Industry Notes

Ensuring equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university, is one of the SDG 4 Targets of note for the Apparel and Textile Industry. Specialized training programs and/or partial or full scholarships for university level or higher degrees related to apparel and textile production skills (e.g., engineering, technology, fiber science and management) can have many direct and indirect benefits to both employers and employees. More basic life skills training, including in personal finance and health, are also important for certain employee populations. Education and training can also contribute to several other SDGs, including SDG 3 (Health and Wellbeing), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Change).

Learn about another Global Goal