Basic education – learning for all
Norad works specifically on Sustainable Development Goal 4 to “ensure inclusive, equitable and high-quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Education is key to achieving many of the other sustainability goals, as well as to individual development, active citizenship and achieving sustainable economic growth. While many of the world’s children start school, it is a challenge that they do not complete school or learn adequately. The world is not on track to achieve sustainable development goal 4 by 2030.
What
Basic education consists of primary education, lower secondary education and upper secondary education. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is part of upper secondary education. In order for children to learn, they need access to adapted teaching delivered by qualified teachers in a language they can understand, preferably their mother tongue during early childhood. The content of basic education should be governed by clear lesson plans and a subject and lesson distribution that emphasises skills objectives at each level. Clear assessment criteria and guidelines for teachers are also important. An educational system needs to be inclusive and facilitate all children being able to participate and learn based on their own starting point. Particular emphasis must be placed on providing education to children with special needs.
Why
The right to education is a human right and education is one of the foundations for individual development. The sustainable development goal relating to education is unique as it contributes to a large extent to the achievement of the other SDGs. Education helps citizens to make informed choices about health, sexuality, equality and democratic participation. There is also broad research literature available documenting the correlation between level/quality of education and economic growth.
How
Norad contributes to ensuring that every child’s right to education is met. Countries in crisis and conflict are a particular priority as these are the countries where we find many of the children who do not attend school. Another priority for Norad is to strengthen national authorities’ work to ensure a well-developed, high-quality education system in which students receive adapted teaching and learning. Key partners include large multilateral partners such as the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Education Cannot Wait (ECW), UNESCO and UNICEF. These partners ensure donor coordination, cooperation and ownership on the part of authorities and excellent results at national level. We also work through civil society organisations that cooperate with the authorities but often have a more limited and focused responsibility for specific parts of educational efforts. Norad also supports embassies’ work with professional advice and follow-up on agreements.
Who/Where
Low-income countries are the main target group for Norad’s efforts with educational aid. We also prioritise groups that experience varying degrees of difficulty in accessing the education they are entitled to. Girls’ education is a priority, as are children with disabilities. Children in crisis and conflict are the group that often falls outside the education system and there is a great need for targeted measures to reach this group.
Links
Partners:
GPE: Global Partnership for Education
UNICEF: UNICEF
UNESCO: UNESCO : Building Peace through Education, Science and Culture, communication and information,
ECW: Education Cannot Wait | The Global Fund for Education in Emergencies
Contact
For more information, please contact the Section for Education and Research.