Education for Sustainability in South Asia: A Panel Quantile Regression Analysis of SDG Performance

ABSTRACT This study provides a comprehensive empirical assessment of the role of education in advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across South Asia, using balanced panel data from eight countries over the period 2000–2023. By disaggregating education into four core dimensions—inputs, outcomes, efficiency, and participation—the research explores how each aspect contributes to or constrains sustainable development progress. Employing advanced econometric techniques, including ordinary least squares, fixed and random effects models, population‐averaged estimation, and panel quantile regression, the study rigorously addresses key methodological challenges such as cross‐sectional dependence, heteroskedasticity, slope heterogeneity, and non‐stationarity. Findings reveal that educational outcomes (OUTf) are the most consistent and powerful driver of SDG achievement across all model specifications and performance levels, highlighting the critical role of accessible, high‐quality education in fostering inclusive development. Educational efficiency (EFFIf) demonstrates a dual effect—positively influencing environmental goals while negatively affecting poverty and equity‐related outcomes, particularly in lower‐performing countries. Inputs (INPf) exert stronger effects at lower quantiles, suggesting their importance in early‐stage development, whereas participation (PARTf) shows positive effects only in underperforming contexts and becomes detrimental where institutional inefficiencies prevail. Economic growth (GDPG), in contrast, displays minimal and inconsistent impact, underscoring the limitations of growth‐centric development models absent human capital investment. The study underscores that education—especially its outcome and efficiency dimensions—are a strategic lever for sustainable transformation in South Asia. It calls for targeted, equity‐driven educational policies that align with local contexts and development stages, offering critical insights for policymakers aiming to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda.