Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Sustainable development and women’s access to education are inextricable. In achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is vital to build up women’s agency and capabilities through education to create synergies between gender equality and sustainable development. When women have greater voice and participation in public administration, public resources are more likely to be allocated towards investments in human development priorities.

Ensuring equitable quality education for all

The 2015 SDGs have stated the need to ensure equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030. The agenda has stated one of the ways to achieve this: by 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States.

Teachers are the single most influential and powerful force for equity, access and quality in education. In addressing the gender gap in education, there must be an increase in the amount of quality female teachers in schools. In sub-Saharan Africa, less than 40% of teachers are women; in this region there is a strong correlation between female teachers and increased girls’ participation, retention and success in schooling. Female teachers have a very positive effect on girls’ participation in school in the developing world. They often encourage girls to break cultural barriers in order to attend school. The presence of female teachers also encourages parents to send their daughters to school, as female teachers are less likely to perpetuate gender discrimination and sexual harassment.