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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 11 March 2015

    Belgium: Overcrowded schools at odds with government cuts

    As the Belgian Government forges ahead with unpopular austerity measures aimed at tackling the country’s debt and sagging economy, opponents pointed to overcrowded schools as the glaring example of unkept promises, and called for action.

    Belgium: Overcrowded schools at odds with government cuts
  2. News 9 March 2015

    Teachers, Technology, Education for All: A Way Forward

    With the Global Education and Skills Forum underway in Dubai, EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen shares his thoughts on how to balance quality teaching and quality education with learning technology.

    Teachers, Technology, Education for All: A Way Forward
  3. News 6 March 2015

    African educators taking strides to enhance teacher effectiveness

    In February, Education International organized national conversations on the issues affecting teacher effectiveness in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal, part of a programme aimed at boosting teacher unions’ promotion of quality education.

    African educators taking strides to enhance teacher effectiveness
  4. News 25 February 2015

    African educators throw their support behind Post-2015 education agenda

    Leading stakeholders in African education made a bold statement in Kigali, Rwanda this month when they pledged to actively develop a new education agenda to help shape the future of the continent.

    African educators throw their support behind Post-2015 education agenda
  5. News 24 February 2015

    Submit your slogan proposal for the World Education Forum

    The Global Education First Initiative (GEFI) is running a twitter-based crowd sourcing competition for education partners to come up with a slogan for the World Education Forum 2015, to be held from 19-22 May 2015, in Incheon, Republic of Korea.

    Submit your slogan proposal for the World Education Forum
  6. Research

    Teaching around the world: What can TALIS tell us

    Dion Burns, Linda Darling Hammond
    23 February 2015

    The Teaching and Learning International Survey of 2013 (TALIS) — representing the views of teachers and principals in lower secondary schools from 34 jurisdictions around the world — tells us a great deal about the conditions for teaching in different countries today and what these may mean for the future...

    Teaching around the world: What can TALIS tell us
    1. Download
  7. News 20 February 2015

    GCE World Assembly to push for adequate Post-2015 education targets and objectives

    When Education International arrives at the Global Campaign for Education’s World Assembly next week in Johannesburg, its efforts will be focused on influencing both the Post-2015 Education for All framework and the sustainable development goals.

    GCE World Assembly to push for adequate Post-2015 education targets and objectives
  8. News 12 February 2015

    ‘Doctor’ Julia Gillard talks education in Brussels

    Former Australian prime minister and head of the Global Partnership for Education Julia Gillard was awarded an honorary doctorate Wednesday by a Brussels' University for her achievements and impact on global education.

    ‘Doctor’ Julia Gillard talks education in Brussels
  9. News 11 February 2015

    Australia: Government must do more for students with disabilities

    With an estimated 100,000 Australian students with a disability being denied financial support, the Abbott Government is being called upon to urgently deliver on its promise to increase funding to those who need it most.

    Australia: Government must do more for students with disabilities
  10. News 6 February 2015

    Refugee education headlines long list of priorities for the Arab region

    Faced with increasing numbers of refugees and internally displaced peoples fleeing conflict and political unrest, the Arab region addressed the urgent need for quality education in affected countries at a recent UNESCO event in Egypt.

    Refugee education headlines long list of priorities for the Arab region
  11. News 4 February 2015

    Guidelines on Entrepreneurship education

    ETUCE is member of the Thematic Working Group of the European Commission on Entrepreneurship Education. The representatives of governments experts, social partners and the European Commission finalised its work and published their Final Report on Entrepreneurship Education in November 2014. The report provides guidance to Member States to enhance their...

    Guidelines on Entrepreneurship education
  12. News 4 February 2015

    Improving the role of the social partners in the European Semester: Education and training priorities in the Annual Growth Survey 2015

    The European Semester has become an important tool for recommendations to Member States on education and training. Yearly, these recommendations contribute to education and training reforms at national level. The Annual Growth Survey 2015 is a communication from the European Commission to the Member States which kicks off the European...

    Improving the role of the social partners in the European Semester: Education and training priorities in the Annual Growth Survey 2015
  13. News 4 February 2015

    Creating a future of quality education in Africa begins now

    Faced with the challenge of achieving quality education for all in Africa, educators and unionists from across the continent are in Nairobi, Kenya to pave the way toward real solutions.

    Creating a future of quality education in Africa begins now
  14. News 30 January 2015

    Hopgood: empower all teachers to make global citizenship a reality

    Using current events to highlight radicalisation and division, Education International’s President Susan Hopgood wasted no time in calling for greater attention on quality teaching as the answer to enhancing global citizenship education around the world.

    Hopgood: empower all teachers to make global citizenship a reality
  15. News 29 January 2015

    Call for global emergency education fund

    Education International has declared its support for a global emergency education fund to be established for children who are out of school because of conflict, disease, or natural disasters.

    Call for global emergency education fund
  16. News 27 January 2015

    Ireland: Unions act to ensure quality Junior Cycle State exams system

    In Ireland, teacher trade unionists went out on strike on two separate days in support of their belief that every student is entitled to a fair, impartial, and transparent Junior Cycle State externally-assessed examination.

    Ireland: Unions act to ensure quality Junior Cycle State exams system
  17. News 27 January 2015

    Finland: “Education: A Tool for Peace and Development”

    Future development goals after 2015 must have education and teachers at their core. And educators must speak with one voice to defend and promote quality education for all, their professional status, and working conditions.

    Finland: “Education: A Tool for Peace and Development”