SDG4: Quality Education

SDG4 calls for the extension of quality education provision for all before and beyond primary school, and equitable access to technical and vocational training to support decent jobs and enterprise development.

Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development. Major progress has been made towards increasing access to education at all levels and increasing enrolment rates in schools particularly for women and girls. Basic literacy skills have improved markedly, yet bolder efforts are needed to make even greater strides for achieving universal education goals. For example, the world has achieved equality in primary education between girls and boys, but few countries have achieved that target at all levels of education.

How is this relevant to mining and metals?

Opposition to mining often stems from a perceived lack of economic benefit to those who bear a disproportionate share of the adverse impacts. But without effective education, the ability of local communities to capitalise on economic opportunities (as employees or service providers) is limited. And where local capacity is limited, the need to recruit employees from further afield can create tensions within local communities. Mining can contribute to quality education by working with the host government to help increase local capacity and through technical, vocational and educational training programmes for the current and future workforce. Such investments can also strengthen relationships with host communities.