The Targets
Why it matters:
Education is the key that will allow many other SDGs to be achieved. When people are able to get quality education they can break from the cycle of poverty. Education therefore helps to reduce inequalities and to reach gender equality. It also empowers people everywhere to live more healthy and sustainable lives. Yet studies show that 103 million youth worldwide still lack basic literacy skills (60% of those are female). In one out of four countries, more than half of children failed to meet minimum math proficiency standards at the end of primary school, and at the lower secondary level, the rate was 1 in 3 countries.