All hands on deck for SDG4: how to build more integrated education systems

As anyone involved with education will know, education systems involve many actors, and the non-state sector plays a key role.

Without non-state actors, the education of 350 million more children would fall to the state. Around 1 in 5 children are educated in the non-state sector globally, and in many settings this figure can be much higher. In India, for example, almost 50% of children are educated by non-state actors. In Lagos State, Nigeria, almost 90% of primary schools are non-state. 

Non-state education actors extend far beyond elite private schools to include civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), low-fee private schools, faith-based organisations and community groups. The vast majority of these schools are not run by chains, but are standalone, single proprietor schools.

The need to engage all education system contributors

Without recognition, engagement and support for all contributors to our education systems, many children risk being left out.

There are government-aided non-state schools in 171 out of 204 countries, making collaboration between governments and non-state actors the norm rather than the exception.

Despite these positive signs of cooperation, all too often stakeholders do not work together effectively. Weak connections and collaboration between education stakeholders can result in diverging priorities. Without clear communication and alignment across the education sector, groups can work at cross-purposes or duplicate each another’s efforts. At best, this is an inefficient use of limited time and financial resources. At worst, it can actively hinder our efforts to provide quality education for all children.

A common goal, a need for collaboration

All education actors share a common agenda: to ensure all children have access to quality education, now. But we are still far from achieving SDG4. Globally, 250 million children and adolescents lack access to school, while 617 million are illiterate or without basic numeracy skills. We all agree that more needs to be done so that all children can receive quality education.
To achieve our shared goal, we need to get all-hands-on-deck and work together in a coordinated way.

In line with the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report’s call to view all education actors as part of a single system, we need collaboration between all education stakeholders: governments, non-state education providers, researchers, innovators, funders, CSOs, and community groups.

Each stakeholder brings their own strengths and roles within education systems. For instance, governments are well-placed to deliver education at scale and are able to steward their entire education system, while non-state actors can foster innovative practices in education and be more agile in times of change. By boosting collaboration, we can foster these innovative educational approaches and build more resilient education systems, moving us closer to delivering quality education for every child, in every setting.

To make this happen, we need strategic thinking and engagement across all parts of the education landscape – and this is where All Hands On Deck comes in.

The All Hands On Deck for SDG4 action toolkit

The new action toolkit helps different education stakeholders to engage with each other effectively. It comprises a set of free resources to support better collaboration and integration across national, subnational and regional education systems. It has been commissioned by IDP Foundation in collaboration with Global Schools Forum and Oxford MeasurED, under the umbrella of the All Hands On Deck Initiative.

The resources can be used by policymakers, CSOs, network organisations, education providers and funders to support their specific needs. This might be to secure funding, build partnerships with governments or form coalitions across and beyond the non-state sector. It has already been used in Lagos State to form a coalition of low-fee private schools to engage with government, for example.

Olanrewaju Oniyitan, Executive Director at the SEED Care & Support Foundation in Lagos State, said: “The All Hands On Deck Toolkit has been extremely useful for us, especially in our advocacy work. We used the toolkit to set up the Coalition of Low-Fee Private School Associations in Lagos State, for which SEED is now the Secretariat. The toolkit helped us achieve the coalition’s objectives and maintain ongoing engagement with the government and other education stakeholders.” 

The toolkit is built on evidence from this work in Lagos State, Central Square Foundation in India, the Transforming Education in Cocoa-Communities initiative in Côte d’Ivoire and the East African Regional Education Learning Initiative. Each case study showcases positive steps for building more collaborative systems, for example, by using evidence-based approaches for engagement or by working with government to scale innovations.

Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja, CEO and Managing Director of Central Square Foundation, said the organisation was “honoured” to feature in the toolkit. She added: “By showcasing successful collaborations between state and non-state actors, the toolkit provides a valuable blueprint for fostering stronger partnerships across national, state and regional levels.

“This collaborative approach to system strengthening is critical to achieving SDG4 and ensuring quality education for all children. The need for system strengthening is vital and requires all stakeholders to come together for All Hands on Deck to contribute towards a unified solution. We’re excited to see the toolkit empower others to join this movement and unlock the collective potential of all education stakeholders.” 

Download the free toolkit now to explore how it can be used to build more integrated education systems in your setting.

To learn more about practical ways to use the toolkit, join our introductory webinar on Wednesday 4^th December 2024,12:00 pm UK | 5.30 PM IST.