Goal 1: Everyone in the Nordic Region must have access to high-quality education from an early age and through all stages of life, regardless of their background

The Nordic Region must continue to be a globally strong region for education in 2030 where there are good opportunities to study and where the entire population possesses fundamental skills and digital competencies. Education must offer a safe framework from early years right through to adulthood. Research shows that investing in the quality of education and early interventions, through good support services where there is a need, has human and socio-economic value, and reduces the need for larger-scale and more expensive interventions later in life. Education also needs to provide the competencies and motivation to participate in democracy and society, to teach the population critical-thinking skills and how to identify and counteract disinformation, and to participate in open debate and the fact-based exchange of opinion. The Nordic Region must work in an even more effective and unified way to promote inclusion within education and work, in part by ensuring well-being and health for all, regardless of level of education and linguistic or cultural background, and by putting preventative and pedagogical initiatives in place from an early age.