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 19 August 2016

    Australia: Cuts hit public schools in remote areas of Northern Territory

    A report shows that public schools’ per-student funding in Australia’s Northern Territory decreased by 6.7 per cent between 2012 and 2014, hitting public schools in remote areas and indigenous students the hardest.

    Australia: Cuts hit public schools in remote areas of Northern Territory
  2. News 18 August 2016

    UK: Early years' education needs highest level of support

    In response to the UK government’s proposals outlined in the Early Years National Funding Formula consultation, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers reiterated that significant investment in early years’ education is essential.

    UK: Early years' education needs highest level of support
  3. News 16 August 2016

    World Social Forum: Spotlight on free quality public education

    “Another world is possible with free, universally accessible quality public education for all”. This was the crucial message brought by the education community to the 2016 World Social Forum in Montreal, Canada, from 9-14 August.

    World Social Forum: Spotlight on free quality public education
  4. News 20 July 2016

    EI President commends the AFT for its 100 years of championing quality public education

    Education International's President Susan Hopgood joined the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Federation of Teachers, thanking the education union “for setting an important example”, and “fighting for the public school, for equity and for democratic values”.

    EI President commends the AFT for its 100 years of championing quality public education
  5. News 20 July 2016

    UNESCO event calls for policies to ensure no one is left behind

    In its efforts to drum up support for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education, UNESCO co-organised a high level meeting with UNICEF in New York on 19 July.

    UNESCO event calls for policies to ensure no one is left behind
  6. News 1 July 2016

    Liberia: USAID throws money at girls education

    The US government agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid has decided to dedicate up to US $27 million to directly support the Let Girls Learn initiative in Liberia.

    Liberia: USAID throws money at girls education
  7. News 29 June 2016

    Investing in pre-primary education vital for children’s life chances

    According to a new scorecard on pre-primary education globally released by charity Theirworld, millions of children will not reach their full potential unless governments urgently increase their commitment to pre-primary education for every child.

    Investing in pre-primary education vital for children’s life chances
  8. News 28 June 2016

    Quality assurance of higher education well underway

    The importance of student centred learning was emphasised by Education International to mark the completion of the first phase of activities of the Enhancing quality through innovative policy and practice project on 9 June.

    Quality assurance of higher education well underway
  9. News 24 June 2016

    Portugal: thousands voice their support for public education

    Around 80,000 Portuguese citizens have voiced their support for a strong public school system, reaffirming its primary role in promoting equal opportunities and building a future of justice, progress and development.

    Portugal: thousands voice their support for public education
  10. News 15 June 2016

    Global leaders try to halt the ‘education deficit’

    Governments’ responsibility to ensure quality education for all will be put on the table as policymakers and funding agencies meet in Norway to adopt measures to improve access to quality education globally.

    Global leaders try to halt the ‘education deficit’
  11. News 8 June 2016

    UK: Trade union action escalates in university pay dispute

    The University and College Union in the United Kingdom has decided on a strategy of disruption targeted at open days, graduation days and an assessment boycott to protest short-term contracts and a gender pay gap.

    UK: Trade union action escalates in university pay dispute
  12. News 3 June 2016

    Indonesian educators find an ally in Vice-President

    After meeting with their country’s Vice-President, leaders of the teachers’ union Persatuan Guru Republik now have a political voice they can count on in their pursuit of a stronger teaching profession and quality education system.

    Indonesian educators find an ally in Vice-President
  13. News 1 June 2016

    Teachers and education are key to solving global challenges

    By calling for stronger collective bargaining for teachers at the annual ILO Conference in Geneva, Education International has emphasised the importance of the teaching profession and quality education needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Teachers and education are key to solving global challenges