INSTITUTIONAL TYPE AND OWNERSHIP IN THE PURSUIT OF QUALITY EDUCATION: A STUDY OF SDG 4 TARGETS 4.3 AND 4.4

Abstract

Quality Education or Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 emphasizes three elements of education- inclusiveness, equitability, and lifelong learning for all. SDG 4 comprises 10 targets and 12 indicators. Out of these 10 targets, target 4.3 and 4.4 laid emphasis on accessibility and affordability of quality technical, vocational, tertiary and University education along with relevant skills for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship. This paper explores the perspectives of type of institutions - school, colleges, and type of ownership - government and private towards the attainment of target 4.3 and 4.4 specifically. Analysis of the results reported no significant differences in the perspectives because of the type of institutions. However, significant differences emerged in perspectives based on type of ownership This implies that the differences exist in educational institutions owned by private or government towards target 4.3 and 4.4 raising concern on accessibility and affordability of quality technical, vocational, tertiary. This violates the overall aim of inclusion and equitability of SDG 4. Initiatives in terms of policy reforms are required to bridge the gap.