Improving Indonesia’s Education Quality through SDGs for Gen Z Empowerment

Abstract

This study examines how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 4 on quality education—can be operationalized to improve education quality in Indonesia and, in turn, empower Generation Z as a demographic dividend. A qualitative, integrative literature review synthesizing policy documents, scholarly articles, and program reports. Sources were mapped to SDG 4 targets (e.g., access, equity, early childhood, TVET, teacher quality, safe learning environments) and analyzed thematically to identify constraints, policy instruments, and implementation gaps. The review identifies four persistent constraints that hinder education quality and equitable outcomes: (1) uneven access and infrastructure (including connectivity in remote areas), (2) curriculum and delivery misalignment with 21st-century competencies, (3) teacher capacity and distribution disparities, and (4) socio-cultural barriers that limit participation for vulnerable groups. Evidence from Indonesian initiatives—such as Kurikulum Merdeka, SATAP (single-roof schools), SM3T (pre-service teacher deployment to 3T regions), and foundational literacy–numeracy (Calistung) programs—shows partial progress but fragmented execution. The study proposes a coherent strategy bundle: targeted infrastructure and digital inclusion, systematic teacher professional development and incentives for underserved areas, strengthened early childhood and TVET pathways, gender and inclusion safeguards, and culturally embedded approaches that leverage local wisdom and community actors. These measures collectively link SDG 4 delivery to Generation Z empowerment through improved learning outcomes, employability, and civic capability. The article integrates dispersed SDG-related programs into a single strategy map explicitly framed around Generation Z empowerment. It contributes a practicable alignment between SDG 4 targets and Indonesia’s policy instruments, highlighting how culturally responsive implementation can close quality and equity gaps in remote and diverse settings.