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 6 November 2012

    Nigeria: teacher gap must be addressed

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has demanded that the federal Government in Nigeria pay teachers’ salaries in order to maintain their employment in financially-strapped States in Nigeria. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), issued this demand in response to the statement by Professor Mohammed Ibn Junaid, the Executive Secretary...

    Nigeria: teacher gap must be addressed
  2. News 26 October 2012

    Ghana: quality education ensures bright future

    The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), one of EI’s national affiliates, has commented on an article written by Kwame Akyeampong, Senior policy analyst in the team in charge of the Education for All Global Monitoring Report.

    Ghana: quality education ensures bright future
  3. News 26 October 2012

    France: unions evaluate government’s reform plans

    France’s education unions have given a mixed response to President François Hollande’s priorities for education and his “road map” for National Education Minister Vincent Peillon.

    France: unions evaluate government’s reform plans
  4. News 25 October 2012

    Democracy and solidarity at the heart of education

    “Think globally, act locally.” This was one of the calls to action heard at the closing of the EI Education in Crisis seminar, held on 18-19 October in Brussels. Building global support for investment in quality public services, including education and training, is vital, stated EI General Secretary Fred van...

    Democracy and solidarity at the heart of education
  5. News 25 October 2012

    UNESCO calls for a new deal on teachers

    UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, has called for a new deal on teachers to improve the quality of learning. Bokova made this call in her opening address to the Sixth Meeting of the Collective Consultation of NGOs on Education for All (CCNGO/EFA), held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, from...

    UNESCO calls for a new deal on teachers
  6. News 24 October 2012

    Finland: High quality educators for ECE

    The Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö (OAJ), one of EI’s national affiliates, has celebrated the 120th anniversary of preschool teacher education in Finland. OAJ president Olli Luukkainen reasserted the need for well-trained teachers at all education levels, including Early Childhood Education (ECE).

    Finland: High quality educators for ECE
  7. News 22 October 2012

    Sweden: education unions obtain a wage increase for teachers

    Swedish teacher unions have come to an agreement on 24 September with local employers concerning a much deserved wage increase, narrowly avoiding a strike.

    Sweden: education unions obtain a wage increase for teachers
  8. News 19 October 2012

    Investing in education to get out of the crisis

    Passionate discussions were held at the EI Education in Crisis Seminar, organised on 18-19 October in Brussels, Belgium. Participants from education unions worldwide and international organisations reiterated the need for strong teacher unions and investing in education to sustainably recover from the current economic and financial crisis.

    Investing in education to get out of the crisis
  9. News 18 October 2012

    EI leaders give directions for education unions in times of crisis

    EI is holding its 40th Executive Board (ExBo) meeting in Brussels, Belgium, from16-18 October. Global education union leaders will discuss about the impact of the economic crisis on education.

    EI leaders give directions for education unions in times of crisis
  10. News 16 October 2012

    EFA Progress stalling: 2012 Global Monitoring Report

    Education for All (EFA) progress is stalling less than three years before 2015, the target date for achieving EFA and the Millennium Development Goals, shows the 2012 EFA Global Monitoring Report (GMR). The report, entitled “Youth and skills: Putting education to work”, has a specific focus on skills necessary for...

    EFA Progress stalling: 2012 Global Monitoring Report
  11. News 12 October 2012

    Lebanon: educators join strike with public sector

    EI national affiliates, the Ligue des professeurs de l’enseignement secondaire public du Liban (LPESPL), the Teachers’ Syndicate of Lebanon (TSL), and the League of Public Technical and Vocational Teachers (CETO), were joined by the public sector in their strike on 10 October. Teachers' unions and public sector employees in Lebanon...

    Lebanon: educators join strike with public sector
  12. News 12 October 2012

    Ohio

    Jim Baker
    Ohio
  13. News 9 October 2012

    Global leaders demand immediate attention to children’s education in crisis zones

    Global leaders from governments, international organisations and civil society have demanded attention about children's education in crisis countries. The call came on 24 September when EI participated in a side event organised by the Global Partnership for Education prior to the UN General Assembly.

    Global leaders demand immediate attention to children’s education in crisis zones
  14. News 8 October 2012

    Global call for decent work for young people

    Since 2008, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has been organising the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) on 7 October. This is a global day of action to remind governments across the globe that they must prioritise decent work to stimulate economic growth and build a new global economy...

    Global call for decent work for young people
  15. 8 October 2012

    Susan Hopgood: The Main Challenges Facing Teachers

    Speech delivered by Susan Hopgood (President, Education International) at the Every Child Needs a Teacher launch event, co-hosted by Education International and the Global Campaign for Education, 24 September 2012.

    Susan Hopgood: The Main Challenges Facing Teachers
  16. News 5 October 2012

    UNESCO launches eAtlas of teachers

    At the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, UNESCO has released its eAtlas of Teachers, which helps visualise the gaps in the supply and demand for teachers at national and global levels. Already, it reveals that massive teacher shortages are quietly looming in countries struggling to provide every child with quality...

    UNESCO launches eAtlas of teachers
  17. News 4 October 2012

    Spain: Unprecedented attack on union representation

    On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, EI's affiliates in Spain issued a joint statement expressing their indignation at the central government’s attack on the teaching profession in particular and on public education in general.

    Spain: Unprecedented attack on union representation