Abstract: Education has a central role to play in attaining sustainable development—by inculcating values that encourage sustainable practices. To play this role effectively, education should go beyond developing cognitive understanding and ability, and address the economic, social and other dimensions of learning as well. Quality education and education for sustainable development (ESD) seek to achieve similar learning outcomes—those that enable learners to make decisions and choices that foster sustainable development—and thus are complementary. This paper presents a frame-work for understanding educational quality, showing how education for sustainable development can and should be a part of every aspect of a quality education rather than being presented as only a standalone subject. This framework is relevant for both industrialised and less industrialised countries. It is also relevant for all organised learning opportunities—it is not limited to schooling.