Synergy of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Education and Transformative Learning: Theory to Action

Abstract

The 21 st century for United Nations (UN) began with Millennium Development
Goals (MGGs) from 2001-2015 and is being continued with Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals set by
the UN. Goal 4 states: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and
promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” This goal has several key areas
such as inclusive education, equitable education, quality education, lifelong
learning, and education for all. On the other hand, Transformative Learning (TL)
emphasizes on learning through meaning transformation which means that the
learners can transform an individual meaning scheme by examining previous
actions. This is completely learning for a lifetime, which lasts till the meaning
changes. Both the SDG 4 and TL acts on lifelong learning, the underlying fact is
for peaceful world through betterment of the educated society. Though the ideas of
both the concepts converge, the synergy needs to be identified. This study is a
theoretical study that has identified the synergy of SDG 4 and TL in the premise of
philosophy, values, beliefs and action. This study presented argument both in favor
of and against from the origin of these concepts.