EXAMINING THE SKILLS REQUIRED OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC SECTOR TO DELIVER SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 4: INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION.

In 2015, South Africa, along with other United Nations (UN) member states, adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve the SDGs, the South African government requires relevant capacity and skills to enhance existing policy and strategy, implement and support programmes, and monitor and report on progress. This paper focuses on SDG 4 (specifically Targets 4.3, 4.4, and 4.7), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. This paper is based on research that was undertaken to inform South Africa's Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority on how it can enhance its support through public sector skills development of South Africa's policy direction and priorities associated with the UN's SDGs. A quantitative research approach was adopted with desktop research undertaken to better understand South Africa's SDG status and to identify international examples of good practice. Interviews with public sector stakeholders were undertaken to inform skills demand to support target delivery. The study concludes that skills required to deliver Targets 4.3, 4.4, and 4.7 need to be linked to activity coordination, policy and programmes development and implementation, management, monitoring and reporting, partnership, and skills development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]