![]() Fortunately, many countries have started using open, distance, and digital education (ODDE) to make NFE more accessible and approachable to the masses. However, offering need-based NFE is a challenge in many developing countries due to the size of the population as well as many other geographical and economic conditions. Therefore, it becomes significant for developing countries to offer meaningful NFE opportunities to the citizens in addition to formal education. ![]() But non-formal education (NFE) also contributes significantly to improve the literacy and livelihoods of individuals. The formal education systems are usually the backbone for the development of a country. This is not possible through the use of formal education practices alone. In addition to making this vast population literate, providing educational opportunities to all, continuingly, is equally important for developing countries to develop sustainably. However, the bulk of this illiterate population is in developing countries (Roser & Ortiz-Ospina, 2018). As a result, today, there is only about 13% illiterate population in the world. Recognizing the importance of education for development, providing quality education to all is a priority area for every government in the world. Research shows that the private return on investment in education is over 25% in primary education, followed by over 15% for secondary and higher education (Psacharopoulos & Patrinos, 2018). Providing need-based quality education to all citizens irrespective of their age or stage is the way to achieve SDGs and improve the status of a developed country. The success of SDGs is dependent on the implementation of developmental measures in developing countries, and education is a key to the success of SDGs (Vladimirovaa & Le Blanc, 2015). ![]() Following the commitment, governments across the globe are trying to achieve SDGs by 2030 (Misra, 2021 United Nations, 2021). The SDGs recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go together with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth, all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. The SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Considering the challenges faced by the world, the global community adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Citizens of the developed countries (15% of countries on the planet) enjoy better living conditions, affordable health services, ample job opportunities, good education, and advanced technological services, whereas citizens of the developing countries live in poor conditions, hardly afford basic health services, face growing unemployment, lack quality education, and constantly encounter the digital divide. Over 85% of countries on this planet, with more than 70% of the world population, are developing countries The final section provides the strategies for making the best and optimum use of ODDE to make NFE accessible to all eligible and willing ones in developing countries. The next section of the chapter outlines theoretical insights and findings of valued publications regarding the use of ODDE for offering NFE. This chapter presents in its first section an overview of the use of ODDE for supporting NFE initiatives in the developing world and identifies issues and challenges faced. Research reveals that proper and effective use of ODDE to offer NFE changes the lives of many citizens in developing countries and may help these countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Fortunately, open, distance, and digital education (ODDE) has emerged as a viable approach to offer quality non-formal education programs at a minimal cost. However, population densities, geographical diversities, and varied socioeconomic conditions in many developing countries make it difficult to offer need-based non-formal education (NFE) to all. Its significance becomes much more in developing countries where 70% of the world population lives. Non-formal education contributes significantly to improve the literacy and livelihoods of individuals.
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