President John Dramani Mahama has stated that education is a critical enabler for reaching all Sustainable Development Goals.
This was said by the President during his speech at the 2025 Doha Forum on the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress”.
The SDGs are a set of 17 global objectives approved by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, safeguard the planet, and achieve peace and prosperity for all by 2030, with economic, social, and environmental implications.
“Education is not the only focus of SDG 4, quality education, but also the enabler of all the other sustainable goals. Because without education, we cannot end poverty, which is SDG 1,” he stated.
“Without education, we cannot achieve good health and well-being, which is SDG 3. Without education, we cannot attain gender equality, which is SDG 5.”
He stated that without education, nations around the world could not provide good jobs and economic progress, which was SDG 8. “Without education, we cannot strengthen climate adaptation, which is SDG 13. And without education, we cannot secure peace, justice and strong institutions, which is SDG 16.”
He stated that education illuminated the route to all other goals, empowering individuals, strengthening institutions, and transforming nations.
“If we want a just, peaceful and prosperous world, we must start by ensuring just, equitable and resilient education systems,” he said.
The President stated that the 2025 Doha Forum’s subject served as a reminder to the world that justice was a global issue and was not limited to national laws.
“Education is a global public good, and when children in one region are denied the opportunity to learn due to conflict or poverty, the entire world loses talent, innovation and potential,” stated President Mahama.
He emphasized that the international community must commit to a few essential components if education is to assist nations’ justice in times of crises.
First, that economic austerity shouldn’t start in the classroom and that education funding should be protected during difficult times.
He also talked on incorporating education into plans for humanitarian relief, making sure that schools and learning environments are secure, promoting digital inclusion, and making investments in digital devices, infrastructure, and teacher preparation.
The President also urged bolstering international alliances and assisting educators as stabilizing agents.
“Our world is changing fast. Our thinking about education must evolve just as rapidly,” he stated.
According to President Mahama, today’s education must equip students to deal with climate shocks, deal with digital disruptions, engage in democracy and governance, support peaceful societies, and compete in a global economy that is becoming more and more dependent on innovation and technology.
“Education must be transformational, not transactional. It must be equitable, not exclusive. It must be forward-looking and not outdated. This is the justice we owe our children,” he said.
“Justice is not only delivered in the courtrooms. Justice lives in the classrooms. It is found in the moment a child learns to read. In the moment a young woman discovers her talent for science. In the moment a displaced child finds safety and hope in a school. In the moment, a teacher inspires courage in a new generation.”
According to President Mahama, the most important and audacious commitment that world leaders must make if they are to build a more resilient, equitable, and peaceful world is education.
According to President Mahama, this was consistent with the adage that “knowledge is like a garden. If it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested”.
“Let us cultivate the seeds of justice through education, especially in times of crisis, so that the harvest may be peace, prosperity and a shared humanity,” the president suggested.
Source: newsthemegh.com