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 25 June 2013

    OECD report is a ‘wake-up’ call for policy makers

    EI deplores the reductions in governments’ expenditure on education and cuts in teachers’ salaries and increases in their working time which are reflected in the latest OECD statistics published today.

    OECD report is a ‘wake-up’ call for policy makers
  2. News 24 June 2013

    Brazil: CNTE shows solidarity with protests but rejects violence

    Since June 12, Brazil has seen numerous protests, mostly organised by young people, which began after the announcement of an increase in the price of public transportation in cities across the country. However, the scope of the demonstrations shows that public transportation is just one of the protesters’ concerns.

    Brazil: CNTE shows solidarity with protests but rejects violence
  3. News 20 June 2013

    EI calls for universal quality education for sustainable development

    In her presentation at the 4th Session of the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development, held in New York 17-19 June, EI coordinator Antonia Wulff argued for equity and quality in education as preconditions for a successful sustainable development framework.

    EI calls for universal quality education for sustainable development
  4. News 20 June 2013

    G8 tackles tax, but fails to mention education

    Government leaders came together this week at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland to make progress on issues such as trade agreements, tax systems, and transparency. Yet, despite reiterated commitments to reducing poverty and promoting growth and jobs as top priorities, EI deplores that education´s core role in tackling these...

    G8 tackles tax, but fails to mention education
  5. News 17 June 2013

    Portugal: Teachers hold anti-cuts demo in Lisbon

    Thousands of Portuguese teachers held a protest against the government’s new policies for public schools on 15 June in Lisbon. This demonstration is part of the industrial action plan proposed by all teacher unions against the government’s decision to cut spending in the education sector.

    Portugal: Teachers hold anti-cuts demo in Lisbon
  6. News 17 June 2013

    UN high level-discussion: indicators and involvement, key to quality education

    Quality education is key to reducing the numbers of children who cannot read and write and those out of school. It is also vital for every individual’s potential to become a global citizen. That’s according to UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, who was speaking at a high-level discussion organised by...

    UN high level-discussion: indicators and involvement, key to quality education
  7. News 12 June 2013

    Education unions fight for tax justice

    EI has called on its affiliates and all concerned citizens to take action for tax justice by signing a statement from the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ). EI believes that there is an increasing appreciation that tax avoidance by big corporations undermines public spending and equality in both developed...

    Education unions fight for tax justice
  8. News 11 June 2013

    Nigeria: Teachers strike demands better wages

    EI’s national affiliate, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has called on members to go on strike as of 1 June, due to the non-payment of a negotiated pay increase. Teachers are due a 27.5 per cent salary increase (Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance) and a minimum wage of 18,000 Nigerian Naira...

    Nigeria: Teachers strike demands better wages
  9. News 5 June 2013

    Argentina: CTERA condemns persecution of trade union leader

    The EI’s affiliate, the Central de Trabajadores de la Educación de la República Argentina (CTERA), has condemned threats by the provincial government against the leader of the Sindicato Unificado de Trabajadores de la Educación de Buenos Aires (SUTEBA).

    Argentina: CTERA condemns persecution of trade union leader
  10. News 4 June 2013

    Rwanda: Significant funding for vocational education and training

    EI has welcomed the announcement by Rwanda’s national Education Minister, Vincent Biruta, that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) will again be allocated a considerable part of the Ministry’s budget. This is due to TVET’s acknowledged capacity to promote skills development and bridge existing skills gaps in the labour...

    Rwanda: Significant funding for vocational education and training
  11. News 4 June 2013

    Teacher trade unions mobilise for quality education

    Communication officers from Education International affiliates in more than thirty countries are gathering in Brussels today to discuss a roadmap for the upcoming Mobilising for Quality Education Campaign.

    Teacher trade unions mobilise for quality education
  12. News 30 May 2013

    Quality teachers crucial for education and development, says EU high-level conference

    A European Union (EU) High Level Conference on Education and Development took place on 23 May in Brussels, Belgium. European commissioner, national ministers and high-profile personalities reaffirmed the importance of well-trained teachers for achieving quality education.

    Quality teachers crucial for education and development, says EU high-level conference
  13. News 30 May 2013

    US: 50 schools to be shut down - largest public school closure in history

    Last week, Chicago announced the closure of 50 public schools, the majority of them on the South and West sides of the city, in the poorer neighbourhoods. The closures represent about eight per cent of the 681 public schools in Chicago, the third-largest school district in the country.

    US: 50 schools to be shut down - largest public school closure in history
  14. News 30 May 2013

    Post-2015 high-level report released

    The High-Level Panel, which was constituted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to advise on a global post-2015 development agenda, has released its report.

    Post-2015 high-level report released
  15. News 28 May 2013

    “New” GPE to enhance quality education worldwide

    The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) must support quality education in developing countries and ensure teachers’ involvement in local education group plans. It was the message delivered by EI at the Board of Directors meeting, held from 21-22 May in Brussels, Belgium.

    “New” GPE to enhance quality education worldwide
  16. News 24 May 2013

    Take part in shaping the future of education!

    EI is calling on educators, students, parents and communities to contribute to The Global Thematic Consultation on Education in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The deadline for online contributions by members of the public to the draft Executive Summary of the Global Consultation on Education is 27 May. This is a...

    Take part in shaping the future of education!
  17. News 17 May 2013

    Nigeria: Extremist attacks hit school attendance

    EI has strongly condemned attacks on Nigerian schools, teachers and students that have kept 15,000 children away from school since last February. News of the attacks by Boko Haram (BH) extremists came from IRIN, the news service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The attacks on...

    Nigeria: Extremist attacks hit school attendance