Assessing Perception towards SDG 4: A Comparative Study of Government and Private Educational Institutions in India

Abstract

Ensuring quality education for all is one of the fundamental pillars of Sustainable Development. The same is emphasized in Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) - Quality Education, one of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The accomplishment of SDG 4 demands contribution from different stakeholders of the society. This reflects the need to understand the perception of stakeholders involved in the attainment of SDG 4 and to identify the gaps, if any. Teachers and students are amongst the key stakeholders from quality education per se. In view of this, the present study aims to understand the differences in the perception of teachers and students of government and private educational institutions (schools and colleges) towards the attainment of SDG 4 in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. To collect the data, a structured questionnaire was developed based on all 10 targets of SDG 4. The data was collected from 320 respondents using purposive sampling. Out of these 320, 160 respondents were the teachers and students from government educational institutions and another 160 respondents from private educational institutions.

The study revealed that there is a significant difference between perception of teachers and students of government and private educational institutions towards the attainment of SDG 4. Private institutions have upper hand in resources, infrastructure, and teacher quality leading to improved workforce readiness. Conversely, government institutions face challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, digital resources and curriculum affecting their educational outcomes. To bridge the gap, targeted policy interventions including curriculum reforms, enhanced teacher training, and public-private collaborations is essential. Overall, collaborative efforts of government and private educational institutions to bridge the quality gap and promote equitable access to quality education for all can help in balanced educational landscape. Such efforts together help in achieving SDG 4 and advancing Sustainable Development.