Access to education for a growing population is key to achieving the SDGs

The role of education in advancing societal progress is well established. Educational achievement impacts people’s lives and supports global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Learning contributes to poverty alleviation, improving health and well-being, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women, reducing inequalities and achieving environmental sustainability. A well-rounded education equips people of all ages to adopt innovative practices that minimize the harmful environmental impacts of their economic activities.

Access to education is related to a broad range of demographic outcomes and behaviours. Countries with high rates of population growth and youthful populations tend to have lower enrolment rates in primary and secondary education. Conversely, countries with high levels of primary school enrolment typically experience lower rates of fertility, and child and maternal mortality.

Sadly, insufficient budgetary allocations, extreme poverty, early childbearing, armed conflicts and natural disasters are keeping students out of school, especially in low-income countries. Even among those enrolled in school, the quality of education and completion rates vary widely within and across countries.

In many countries, the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant cuts in public spending on education. It caused disruptions to instruction and exacerbated inequalities in access to and quality of education. The pandemic exposed large disparities not only between countries, but particularly between different learner groups within countries. The crisis in education is having a devastating impact on the futures of children and youth worldwide.

These issues on population, education and sustainable development will be at the top of the agenda during the Commission on Population and Development to be held in New York from 10 to 14 April 2023. The Commission will review the progress, gaps, challenges and emerging issues related to population and education as agreed upon in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and furthered by Sustainable Development Goal 4. The Commission will also take into account the commitments, initiatives and partnerships advanced during the Transforming Education Summit in 2022.

For more information: Commission on Population and Development

Credits: World Bank/Genti Shkullaku; UNICEF Ethiopia/2023/Ayene.

Caption: On the left, primary school children at the Kosova school in Tirana, Albania; on the right, school children at Shemelako Primary School in DabayM Amhara, Ethiopia.