SDG 4 strategizing: critical perspectives on the way forward

Group Submission Type: Pre-conference Workshop

Proposal

There were no guarantees that education would be a stand-alone goal when the so-called post-2015 process kicked off in 2012. The MDGs and EFA goals had had varying success and were far from being met; there were new challenges such as climate change and financial crises, including declining education and aid budgets, and a shocking figure of 250 million children not having learned despite being in school.

Alongside numerous other sectors, education mobilized to secure an ambitious stand-alone goal. But there was far from agreement within the sector on what was to be captured in that goal; what does quality education mean today, how and by whom should education be provided, and what is the minimum level and scope of education to be ensured for all people in the world?

The adoption of SDG 4 on quality education did not mark the end of these debates, and there have since been numerous attempts to reframe the agenda. Among the most controversial and hotly debated topics are learning outcomes, including the subjects to be measured, the methodology to be used and the possible global comparability of it all, and the financing of education and regulation of the private sector. While countries have started implementing the new agenda, these controversial and unresolved areas are hampering progress and dividing the education community.

This workshop provides a space for critical discussion about SDG 4 and its strengths and weaknesses. It brings together people who have engaged in critical analysis of the new agenda and aims to challenge, inform and support the implementation of SDG 4 as well as related research agendas. It will look at existing critiques and analysis, provide critical perspectives and food for thought as focus is shifting towards national-level actors and action, and discuss strategies for implementation, financing and monitoring. Finally, it aims to identify areas that require more attention and analysis, contributing to a SDG 4 research agenda.
The workshop will start with short interventions on some of the challenges at this stage of the implementation of SDG 4, including the quest for a global learning metric; and the regulation of private sector participation in education. Among the presenters are Aaron Benavot, Angeline Barrett, Iveta Silova and Toni Verger (all speakers are to be confirmed).

The presentations will be followed by an interactive mapping of issues, which allows participants to share their experiences and suggest areas for further interrogation. Once the areas have been noted, participants will work in smaller groups, examining challenges as well as ongoing work, and identifying opportunities and strategies for moving forward. Lastly, they will identify research that they would like to see done within their area.

We hope to bring together a community of activists from different spheres and sectors to formulate a critique but also strategies for moving forward, building capacity for strengthened engagement around SDG 4.

A similar workshop was organised at CIES 2018 and acclaimed as an interesting, thought-provoking and necessary exchange on recent trends and developments in (global) education policy.

Sub Unit

• General Pool

Workshop Organizers

• Hugh McLean, Open Society Foundations

• Antonia Wulff, Education International