statementinsupportoftheSDGsandthepursuitofquality.pdfVIP

The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Pursuit of Quality Education for All: A Statement of Support from Education International and ASCD Education International (EI) and ASCD1 applaud the establishment of the stand-alone education goal as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ratified at the United Nations on September 25, 2015. Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. It is the intent of this statement to declare our joint support for a quality education that places the needs of the child at the fore. A quality education is one that focuses on the whole child— the social, emotional, mental, physical, and cognitive development of each student regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or geographic location. Based on the pillars of providing excellent teaching; utilizing and providing access to developmentally appropriate and effective learning tools; and establishing supportive learning environments, a quality education provides the outcomes needed for individuals, communities, and societies to prosper. Background Our members—educators—are some of the most optimistic people in the world. Educators cannot work with young people every day without a belief that they are making today and tomorrow better than yesterday. For decades, as global advocates for quality education and equity of opportunity, we have pursued education policies that promote and advance the development of each child regardless of circumstance. Our duty to students, and to the educators that serve them, is to stand for goals that are meaningful beyond simple metrics and to support goals that are commensurate with what we know. Education reduces poverty and hunger across generations and improves health outcomes, especially for mothers and ch