“SDG 4: Education at Crossroads – Challenges, Choices, and the Future”

On March 12, 2025, the Academic regional resource center for information support about the UN at the Faculty of International Relations of Al-Farabi KazNU organized an interactive session dedicated to Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education.

The main speakers, Yerkin Aidana and Kassym Ulzhan, discussed the current challenges in education, potential solutions, and the future prospects of education globally.

The session began with a welcoming speech by Aidana, who emphasized the significance of SDG 4 and its role in promoting sustainable development. Ulzhan highlighted the interconnections between education and other SDGs, stressing the need for inclusive and equitable access to quality education for all.

During the session, student participants engaged in presentations and discussions on topics such as “Barriers to Achieving SDG 4” and “The Role of Education in Sustainable Development”.

A special focus was placed on the main obstacles to quality education, including poverty, gender inequality, conflict and crises, the digital divide, lack of resources, and teacher shortages.

Following the presentations, an interactive game was conducted, where participants worked in teams to solve real-world education crises. Each group represented a country facing a major education challenge and had a $500,000 budget to allocate toward improving the situation. The teams analyzed the issues, proposed solutions, and linked their strategies to other SDGs such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

After the group discussions, participants presented their proposed solutions, followed by a short debate on the most effective strategies for addressing education challenges.

At the end of the event, the speakers and participants shared their final reflections, emphasizing the importance of youth involvement in tackling global education issues.

Responsible faculty members: Delovarova L.F., Abdusattarova G.A., Yermekbayev A.A.