SGD 4, or Sustainable Development Goal 4, is one of seventeen Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. The goal of SDG 4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. In the Indian context, SGD 4 is particularly significant given the country’s large population and its commitment to providing education for all. One of the main challenges is the quality of education, particularly in rural areas. There is also a significant gender gap in education, with girls having lower enrollment rates than boys. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the existing inequalities in education, with millions of students being unable to attend school due to school closures and a lack of access to digital learning resources.
What Are the Challenges to the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals –the Indian Context?
Sustainable Development Goal 4 focuses on providing inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. Some of the main issues to achieve SDG 4:
- Inadequate infrastructure. Despite significant progress in recent years, the education system still faces significant infrastructure challenges, particularly in rural areas. Lack of basic amenities such as classrooms, furniture, toilets, and drinking water facilities, remains a significant barrier to education in many parts of the country.
- Low enrolment rates. Although education is a fundamental right, millions of children in the country are still not enrolled in schools. Low enrollment rates are especially prevalent among girls and marginalized communities, who often face discrimination and other socioeconomic barriers to education.
- Quality of education. The quality of education based on the curriculum does not always align with the needs of the job market or the changing world, and the traditional methods of teaching often fail to promote critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.
- Gender disparities. Gender disparities remain a significant issue in the Indian education system, with girls often facing discrimination and violence in and around schools. They are also more likely to drop out of school early and have fewer opportunities to pursue higher education.
- Digital divide. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the digital divide in India, with millions of students unable to attend school due to a lack of access to digital learning resources. The pandemic also exposed the vulnerability of India’s education system to crises, natural disasters, and other disruptions.
To achieve SDG 4 in India, it is essential to gain awareness regarding these issues and implement policies that promote access to quality education for all.
Initiatives Taken by the Indian Government to Achieve SDG4?
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). This flagship program of the Indian government was launched in 2001 to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14. The program aims to increase enrollment, retention, and completion rates, with a focus on disadvantaged and marginalized children.
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). Launched in 2009, RMSA improves access to secondary education and increase enrollment rates, particularly for girls and marginalized children. The program also focuses on improving the quality of education and infrastructure in secondary schools.
- National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Launched in 2009, NSDC provides vocational education and training to young people to improve their employability and meet the demands of the Indian economy.
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Launched in 1995, this program provides free meals to children in government schools to improve enrollment, attendance, and retention rates.
- Digital India. Launched in 2015, Digital India improves digital infrastructure and provides digital literacy and skills training to help transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
The Indian government has taken a few steps to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4, in India.
S M Sehgal Foundation and its Contribution Toward Achieving SDG4
S M Sehgal Foundation is a sustainable rural development NGO in India that promotes sustainable development solutions for rural communities. The NGO focuses on creating sustainable solutions to address the challenges faced by rural communities in India, such as poverty, lack of education, and limited access to resources, by providing them with access to basic amenities such as clean water, sanitation, digital and life skills education, and healthcare.
The Transformation Unfolds
In 2020–2021, a school in Manchi, Bhandari, with a registered enrollment of 237 students, faced significant challenges due to its poor infrastructure. Out of the five rooms in the school, two were half-constructed and unusable, with one reserved for staff members. Students were forced to study in the remaining two rooms or sit outside under the trees. Classrooms lacked basic furniture and electricity. The school’s hand pump for drinking water was shared among the students and staff. The dysfunctional toilets made it difficult for students to attend school regularly, and they commonly either went home or used the open area.
Prathmik Vidyalaya Ward Number 1, another school in Bhandari village, faced similar issues. With a registered enrollment of 130 students, the school had only four rooms, with one reserved for the staff. Students used the remaining three rooms or studied outside under the trees. The school had only one hand pump for drinking water, which was shared by the staff and students. These schools catered to other primary schools that lacked proper infrastructure.
To address these issues and improve the infrastructure of the government schools in Bhandari Panchayat, Sitamarhi district, Bihar, S M Sehgal Foundation collaborated with PTC Foundation and Power Finance Corporation Limited under their CSR initiative to implement Hamari Paathshaala (2018–2021). The initiative provided the schools with intact classrooms, safe drinking water, working toilets, solar-powered energy, and digital smart classrooms. The school transformations have had a positive impact on the students and teachers, providing a better learning environment with enough classrooms, furniture, functional toilets, and smart classes. The BALA concept, which uses visual art to strengthen language, communication, and numerical skills, and connect students with nature and the environment, has further enhanced the learning experience.
S M Sehgal Foundation is a sustainable rural development NGO in India that creates sustainable solutions to address the challenges faced by rural communities in India, such as poverty, lack of education, and limited access to resources.
FAQs
SGD 4, or Sustainable Development Goal 4, is one of seventeen Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. The goal of SDG 4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. In the Indian context, SGD 4 is particularly significant given the country’s commitment to providing education for such a large population. One of the main challenges is the quality of education, particularly in rural areas.
Some of the main issues being faced by India to achieve SDG 4:
- Inadequate infrastructure
- Low enrollment rates
- Quality of education
- Gender disparities
- Digital divide
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). This flagship program of the Indian government increases enrollment, retention, and completion rates, with a focus on disadvantaged and marginalized children.
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). RMSA improves access to secondary education and increases enrollment rates, particularly for girls and marginalized children.
- National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). NSDC provides vocational education and training to young people to improve their employability and meet the demands of the Indian economy.
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Launched in 1995, this program provides free meals to children in government schools to improve enrollment, attendance, and retention rates.
- Digital India. Digital India is transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
To address these issues and improve the infrastructure of the government schools in Bhandari Panchayat, Sitamarhi district, Bihar, S M Sehgal Foundation collaborated with PTC Foundation and Power Finance Corporation Limited under their CSR initiative to implement Hamari Paathshaala (2018–2021). The initiative has provided schools with intact classrooms, safe drinking water, working toilets, solar-powered energy, and digital smart classrooms. The transformation of schools has had a positive impact on the students and teachers, providing a better learning environment with enough classrooms, furniture, functional toilets, and smart classes.
To address rural India’s most pressing needs, S M Sehgal Foundation specializes in Water Management, Agriculture Development, Local Participation and Sustainability, Transform Lives one school at a time, and Outreach for Development. Programs are supported by a skilled research team that engages in participatory research, impact assessment, and interactive dialogues to determine informed actions to achieve sustainable results.
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