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. 5 August 2013

    Quality education is a public good and a basic human right

    I have written and spoken these words many times across the world as part of Education International’s continuing 20-year mission advocating for the teacher training and the teaching tools and the learning environments to provide quality education to every student.

    Quality education is a public good and a basic human right
  2. News 1 August 2013

    Education For All: a teachers’ perspective

    Delhi, India, was the location for a meeting to facilitate EI member organisations to evaluate the implementation of the Education For All (EFA) process in their home countries. The aim was to publicise teachers’ perspectives on EFA, after 25 years of global efforts to achieve education ‘for every citizen in...

    Education For All: a teachers’ perspective
  3. News 31 July 2013

    Downward trends in higher education funding in Europe

    The European University Association released the latest edition of its Public Funding Observatory report which monitors the impact of the economic crisis on universities and identifies trends in public funding to higher education institutions across Europe since 2008. The report is launched in tandem with a new interactive online tool...

    Downward trends in higher education funding in Europe
  4. News 31 July 2013

    Canadian researchers urge government to “Get Science Right”

    The organization representing Canada’s academic staff is calling for an overhaul of the federal government’s science policy, following renewed concerns about the impact of recent decisions on the integrity and independence of scientific research.

    Canadian researchers urge government to “Get Science Right”
  5. News 31 July 2013

    Fighting Privatisation in Higher Education

    At its recent Congress, the University and College Union (UK) unveiled a new toolkit for members to campaign against the growing pressures of privatisation.

    Fighting Privatisation in Higher Education
  6. News 31 July 2013

    Profs push back on MOOCs

    Professors at San Jose State University in California are refusing to use a Harvard-produced philosophy course developed by edX, one of the major providers of the controversial Massive On-Line Open Courses (MOOCs), out of concern the intention is to replace faculty with cheaper on-line education.

    Profs push back on MOOCs
  7. News 24 July 2013

    Developing African teachers’ skills for quality education

    The status, training initiatives and opportunities for teacher development in Africa were all up for discussion at the Pan African Conference on Teacher Development (PACTED III). The conference, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 16-17 July, also sought that EI be recognized as a partner in the implementation and coordination...

    Developing African teachers’ skills for quality education
  8. News 24 July 2013

    USA: Educators renew their defence of public education

    The 2013 American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) TEACH Conference is focusing on what it will take to reclaim the promise of public education so that all children can succeed. The event is bringing together more than 2,000 educators, union leaders, administrators, activists, and civic and community leaders from 22-24 July...

    USA: Educators renew their defence of public education
  9. News 23 July 2013

    Cameroon: teacher union involved in quality education initiative

    The Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement et de la recherche(FESER) one of EI’s national affiliates, participated in the 4th Aflatoun – a network of organisations interested in education –“Building Blocks for Life” International Meeting, which took place from 1 to 3 July 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. Hosted and organised in...

    Cameroon: teacher union involved in quality education initiative
  10. News 17 July 2013

    Greece: Multi-bill threatens vocational education

    On 17 July, a multi-bill is expected to pass at the Greek Parliament under which more than 4,000 state employees, including teachers, are facing dismissal this year. EI’s affiliate, the Greek federation of secondary education state school teachers, OLME, has warned that over 2,500 teachers are facing an eight-month suspension...

    Greece: Multi-bill threatens vocational education
  11. News 17 July 2013

    Swiss educators demand real efforts for quality education

    During its recent General Meeting, the Swiss Teachers’ Federation (Dachverband Schweizer Lehrerinnen und Lehrer, LCH) unanimously decided on a resolution calling for greater efforts to provide quality education throughout Switzerland.

    Swiss educators demand real efforts for quality education
  12. News 16 July 2013

    UK: Revised curriculum fails to reflect student needs

    EI’s UK affiliates, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) have expressed concern about the revised national curriculum for state schools in England. The new curriculum, implemented by Education Secretary Michael Gove, is being introduced from September 2014.

    UK: Revised curriculum fails to reflect student needs