The Sustainable Development Goal on Quality Education

The United NationsUnited Nations Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable development GoalsSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (SDGs) are widely regarded as a powerful political vision that address the socialSocial , economic and environmental pillars. In this light, this chapter focuses on the fourth SDG on quality educationQuality education and draws comparisons with Europe’s 2020 strategyStrategy that is aimed to create the conditions for smart, sustainableSustainable and inclusive growth within the European UnionEuropean Union (EU) (EU) context. A literature review suggests that there is a unifying thread in these action plans for sustainable developmentSustainable development . There is an indispensable requirement for an inclusive and equitable quality educationQuality education that could eradicate povertyPoverty in all of its forms and dimensions. Therefore, this research presents a case study on the latest educational policiesPolicy in Malta. The smallest EU state is pursuing its reforms to reduce early school leaving and promote lifelong learning. At the same time, it is striving to address skills gaps (and mismatches) in its domestic labour marketLabour market . The findings indicate that with quality educationQuality education , there may be implications for jobJobs creation, competitivenessCompetitiveness as well as more socialSocial cohesionSocial cohesion . Family-friendly measures including better access to childcare, more flexible working schemes and employer incentives can help individuals to return Return to work. In conclusion, this contribution implies that the pursuit towards continuous improvements in quality educationQuality education and socialSocial inclusionSocial inclusion could create a virtuous cycle of productivity outcomes, economic growthEconomic growth and prosperity.