Goal 4: Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Sri Lanka has benefited from a long-standing free education policy, high rates of primary school enrollment, gender parity at the primary education level, and a high literacy rate, comparing it favourably to other countries in the region on education indicators. However, its progress on other indicators merits attention: Sri Lanka's gross enrollment ratio in tertiary education is below the regional average and the lowest among all middle-income countries; further, the country suffers from one of the highest rates of brain drain in the region.

Select Target

4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes

4.1.1 Proportion of children and young people in grades 2/3, at the end of primary, and at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading and mathematics, by sex

4.1.2 Completion rate primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education

4.2 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre?primary education so that they are ready for primary education

4.2.1 Proportion of children aged 24-59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being, by sex

4.2.2 Participation rate in organized learning one year before the official primary entry age, by sex

4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university

4.3.1 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex

4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

4.4.1 Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology skills, by type of skill

4.4.2 Proportion of youth with ICT skills by type of skill (NVQ and non NVQ) -Localized indicator

NO CHART DATA

4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations

4.5.1 Parity indices female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict-affected, as data become available for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregated

4.6 By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy

4.6.1 Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional literacy and numeracy skills, by sex

NO CHART DATA

4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

4.7.1 Extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in national education policies, curricula, teacher education and student assessment

NO CHART DATA

4.a Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all

4.a.1 Proportion of schools with access to: (a) electricity; (b) the Internet for pedagogical purposes; (c) computers for pedagogical purposes; (d) adapted infrastructure and materials for students with disabilities; (e) basic drinking water; (f) single-sex basic sanitation facilities; and (g) basic handwashing facilities (as per the WASH indicator definitions)

4.b By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries

4.b.1 Volume of official development assistance flows for scholarships by sector and type of study

4.c By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States

4.c.1 Proportion of teachers with the minimum required qualifications, by education level