Ei-iE

AP / vide
AP / vide

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 October 2016

    Government’s education reform plan is harmful, Polish educators say

    Education unionists have been at the forefront of the protest against the education reform, which they believe will lead to mass educator dismissals and a decrease in the quality of education.

    Government’s education reform plan is harmful, Polish educators say
  2. News 6 October 2016

    US educators and civil society mobilise for public schools

    World Teachers’ Week in the US saw thousands of teachers, students, parents and community members participating in a “walk-in” to schools across the country to advocate for quality public schools.

    US educators and civil society mobilise for public schools
  3. News 3 October 2016

    Australia: union rejects government funding plan for education

    Education unionists have strongly rejected new financing arrangements for education proposed by the federal Education Minister, arguing that they would lead to a schools not receiving the minimum resources needed to provide quality education.

    Australia: union rejects government funding plan for education
  4. News 3 October 2016

    Finland: Educators join in march to counter racism and extremism

    The Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö, together with the Finnish trade union movement, has backed a demonstration against racism and violent right-wing extremism which received widespread national public support.

    Finland: Educators join in march to counter racism and extremism
  5. News 29 September 2016

    Quebec union celebrates National Day for education support personnel

    The Centrale des syndicats du Québec is celebrating the work and commitment of the province’s education support personnel, who are integral to transforming schools into communities and greatly contribute to students’ success.

    Quebec union celebrates National Day for education support personnel
  6. News 26 September 2016

    South Africa: University fee cap welcomed

    Education unions are encouraged by the South African government’s announcement that university fee increases may be capped and that low-income families may have the increase subsidised to make education more accessible.

    South Africa: University fee cap welcomed
  7. News 18 September 2016

    No shortcuts or substitutes for teachers

    The importance and need of qualified and well-supported teachers has been reinforced with the launch of the Education Commission Report, which puts teachers at the heart of quality education and calls for increased investment.

    No shortcuts or substitutes for teachers
  8. News 16 September 2016

    UK: Unions condemn reintroduction of selective grammar schools

    Teacher unions have reacted strongly to the Government’s proposal to end the ban on the creation of new grammar schools, and are demanding measures intended to prevent poorer children from losing out.

    UK: Unions condemn reintroduction of selective grammar schools
  9. News 8 September 2016

    New Zealand: Unions unite against ‘global funding’ proposal

    Over 50 unprecedented combined meetings of 60,000 members from both the Post Primary Teachers’ Association and the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa are being held to oppose the government’s proposal for ‘Global Funding’.

    New Zealand: Unions unite against ‘global funding’ proposal
  10. News 7 September 2016

    Literacy vital for democratic, social, and economic development

    To mark the 50th anniversary of International Literacy Day, governments and organisations around the world are mobilising to promote literacy as an instrument to empower individuals, communities, and societies.

    Literacy vital for democratic, social, and economic development
  11. News 6 September 2016

    UN report outlines challenges in achieving education for all

    Education needs to fundamentally change if society is to reach its global development goals. That’s according to the new Global Education Monitoring Report published by UNESCO.

    UN report outlines challenges in achieving education for all
  12. News 28 August 2016

    Belgium: teachers paying out of pocket for classroom costs

    With the school term about to begin in Belgian Flanders, a new survey has revealed that nine out of 10 teachers will spend over €93 on average out of their own pocket on classroom materials.

    Belgium: teachers paying out of pocket for classroom costs