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Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4

In 2015, all countries committed to achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Education International played a critical role in securing a stand-alone goal for education - Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Significantly, SDG4 recognised that quality education can only be delivered by qualified teachers.

However, at the current pace, governments will fail to achieve SDG 4. The COVID-19 pandemic poses additional challenges, and risks reversing years of progress on education. Urgent and decisive action is imperative.

Together with our member organisations around the world we are working to ensure that governments live up to their promise to achieve SDG 4 and all its targets by 2030.

  • We monitor progress and hold governments accountable.
  • We advocate for enhanced domestic financing for public education through fair and progressive taxation and international aid.
  • We oppose corporate interests that treat education as a market instead of a public good accessible to all.
  • We promote quality education that is free from violence, develops the “whole child”, builds tolerance, understanding, democracy, respect for human rights and active citizenship for sustainable development.
  • We promote the achievement of the “teacher target” (target 4.c), underlining every students’ right to be taught by a trained and qualified teacher.

Our work in this area

  1. News 11 May 2015

    Teachers’ voices needed to move the post-2015 education agenda forward

    Education stakeholders convened in Brussels’ Norway House last week to prepare for July’s Oslo Summit on Education for Development that is set to tackle the global sector’s most pressing challenges.

    Teachers’ voices needed to move the post-2015 education agenda forward
  2. News 5 May 2015

    UNESCO reminds us that education is a human right and a public good

    A new UNESCO report reinforces education as a basic human right and public good, and calls for a humanistic approach to education in the lead up to the World Education Forum in Incheon, South Korea.

    UNESCO reminds us that education is a human right and a public good
  3. Research

    Creating a supportive working environment in European higher education

    Marie Clarke
    30 April 2015

    Creating a positive working environment is key to the future success of higher education across Europe. Self-direction and autonomy are positive influences in the work context. Those who feel supported at work will enjoy their experience, like their jobs and have high levels of job satisfaction. The capacity to form...

    Creating a supportive working environment in European higher education
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  4. News 30 April 2015

    Final push toward new UN sustainability goals begins in Paris

    As the UN Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative nears completion of its mandate, the final push toward the post-2015 goals begins and all eyes turn toward the next steps of the global agenda.

    Final push toward new UN sustainability goals begins in Paris
  5. Research

    The Bologna Process under threat

    29 April 2015

    In this study, academics across nine countries in Europe identified a number of key issues that impacted upon their working environment. These included the impact of decreased funding; the difficulties experienced in forming supportive relationships; negative experiences of academic life in the initial years; a deterioration in working conditions; the...

    The Bologna Process under threat
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  6. News 27 April 2015

    Global Action Week calls on governments to vote for Education

    This week, 26 April-2 May, the 2015 Global Action Week takes place under the rallying theme: “The Right to Education 2000-2030 - Vote for Education!” This is to remind governments of their promise to provide quality education for all.

    Global Action Week calls on governments to vote for Education
  7. News 24 April 2015

    Report highlights importance of teacher consultation

    A new report by Education International presented to UNESCO and the International Labour Organisation shows how the involvement of teachers in policy making is key to reach the objectives of Education for All

    Report highlights importance of teacher consultation
  8. Research

    EI Report to the Committee of Experts on the Application of the Recommendation concerning Teachers | 2015

    15 April 2015

    The Committee of Experts on the Application of the Recommendation concerning Teachers (CEART) is a joint committee of the ILO and UNESCO composed of 12 Experts. It meets every three years and is charged with monitoring the implementation of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers and the...

    EI Report to the Committee of Experts on the Application of the Recommendation concerning Teachers | 2015
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  9. News 15 April 2015

    Germany: ECE teachers strike for equitable wages

    Around 250,000 early childhood educators in Germany have been called on by their trade unions to go on a nationwide strike today as negotiations with municipalities on a pay agreement continue.

    Germany: ECE teachers strike for equitable wages
  10. News 9 April 2015

    Global report reveals shortcomings of the Education for All Goals

    Despite relative progress, the latest report makes it clear that the critical shortage of qualified teachers, with less than 75% trained to national standards, is a major culprit behind the failure to achieve the goals.

    Global report reveals shortcomings of the Education for All Goals
  11. News 8 April 2015

    Understanding why teacher collaboration is the way forward

    It’s being endorsed by education experts as a way to empower teachers and build leadership among their ranks, but how to make teacher collaboration a reality was the challenge at this year’s international teaching summit.

    Understanding why teacher collaboration is the way forward
  12. News 7 April 2015

    Reasserting the need for quality secondary education and public services

    The future of quality secondary education and public services was among the hot topics debated by Education International and its affiliates, who were actively involved in the World Social Forum last month in Tunisia.

    Reasserting the need for quality secondary education and public services
  13. News 31 March 2015

    Australia: Privatisation of vocational training detrimental to students

    Reacting to a recently published study, education unions have stressed that authorities of New South Wales must guarantee minimum public funding levels for technical and further education, and avoid the unchecked privatisation that has destroyed vocational education.

    Australia: Privatisation of vocational training detrimental to students
  14. News 30 March 2015

    Russia: trade union congress focuses on quality education

    The Education and Science Employees Union of Russia held its 7th congress last week, with a strong focus on quality education, teachers’ rights and the future of the teaching profession.

    Russia: trade union congress focuses on quality education
  15. News 27 March 2015

    EI to deliver strong message at global teaching summit in Canada

    The Education International delegation wants the focus of this year’s International Summit on the Teaching Profession squarely on creating collaborative school environments that empower teachers to build strong learning communities.

    EI to deliver strong message at global teaching summit in Canada
  16. News 25 March 2015

    Teachers called to create the World’s Largest Lesson

    Education International and its global partners have launched the World’s Largest Lesson Plan, a project which invites the world’s teachers to educate and popularise the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, to be launched in September.

    Teachers called to create the World’s Largest Lesson
  17. 25 March 2015

    Teachers called to create the World’s Largest Lesson

    Education International and its global partners have launched the World’s Largest Lesson Plan, a project which invites the world’s teachers to educate and popularise the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, to be launched in September.

    Teachers called to create the World’s Largest Lesson