Ei-iE

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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 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
    1. Download
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. News 24 March 2015

    Final countdown to shape the Post-2015 UN development agenda

    As negotiations on the United Nations new development agenda, known as the Post-2015 process, have entered the final stage, Education International is working to ensure the goals are evaluated in line with human rights standards.

    Final countdown to shape the Post-2015 UN development agenda
  14. News 24 March 2015

    Spain’s universities go on strike against government reform

    Public higher education is shutting down today in Spain, as teachers, support staff and students close ranks against the latest government’s reforms, arguing that they open the path to privatisation and hamper access for all.

    Spain’s universities go on strike against government reform
  15. News 18 March 2015

    Zimbabwe: qualified teachers are the answer to filling the recruitment gap

    Teacher unionists aren’t happy with the government’s decision to recruit more than 20,000 unqualified teachers to fill empty posts, which account for nearly a fifth of the country’s teaching force in primary and secondary schools.

    Zimbabwe: qualified teachers are the answer to filling the recruitment gap
  16. News 12 March 2015

    Education stories hit the big screen in America’s capital

    This week in Washington D.C. the classroom enters the cinema to present education in ways not commonly seen, helping to provoke new ideas, debate, and the chance to reveal how film can unlock potential.

    Education stories hit the big screen in America’s capital