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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. Worlds of Education 28 June 2018

    “Towards recognising Education Support Personnel within education unions’ work worldwide”, by Matthew McGowan

    Matthew McGowan

    I had the privilege of attending Education International’s first conference on Education Support Personnel (ESP) on May 15 and 16 this year. As the first ever conference for staff who work in education in professional and support roles, it was not only an important event for those involved – it...

    “Towards recognising Education Support Personnel within education unions’ work worldwide”, by Matthew McGowan
  2. News 27 June 2018

    Chile: educators stand up against sexism, harassment, abuse and discrimination in education

    Thousands of Chilean educators, students and activists have reaffirmed their support to building a new education system, that is non-sexist and free of violence, abuse and discrimination. Education unionists mobilise to fight gender violence in the classroom

    Chile: educators stand up against sexism, harassment, abuse and discrimination in education
  3. News 27 June 2018

    Unions vow to remain strong despite Janus ruling

    The Supreme Court of the United States just delivered a painful blow to working people and to the unions which stand up for their rights. In a narrow 5 to 4 vote, the justices decided in the Janus v. AFSCME case, that public sector unions must use their resources to...

    Unions vow to remain strong despite Janus ruling
  4. News 27 June 2018

    EI promotes the ideas of youth to strengthen unions in Senegal and Ivory Coast

    The continuation of the program led by Education International in Senegal and Ivory Coast has the aim of spreading unionisation,getting young activists involved in union activity, and strengthening trade union unity.

    EI promotes the ideas of youth to strengthen unions in Senegal and Ivory Coast
  5. Worlds of Education 26 June 2018

    Fighting racism with the light of learning, by Glen Hansman

    Glen Hansman

    Canadian teachers, like our colleagues worldwide, are united in a desire to make the world a better place by confronting social injustices such as racism. In our troubled times, disturbing signs of a resurgent neo-Nazi, white supremacist movement have got teachers across North America talking about how best to confront...

    Fighting racism with the light of learning, by Glen Hansman
  6. News 22 June 2018

    EI welcomes the G20 focus on the contributions of education

    For the first time in its decade-long existence, the G20, under the Argentinian Presidency, will focus on education. EI has been asked to contribute to the preparatory work of the education minister’s working group.

    EI welcomes the G20 focus on the contributions of education
  7. News 20 June 2018

    On World Refugee Day: Safe, quality education for all learners

    Education is a human right and a public good helping to enable people at all stages in their lives to achieve their maximum potential. This includes the right to learn and right to teach for refugees and migrants in every corner of the world.

    On World Refugee Day: Safe, quality education for all learners
  8. Worlds of Education 14 June 2018

    “The Sustainable Development Goals: Where Are We at?” by Antonia Wulff

    Antonia Wulff

    The clock is ticking: three years in, how much closer are we to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the agreed blueprint for world improvement between 2015 and 2030?

    “The Sustainable Development Goals: Where Are We at?” by Antonia Wulff
  9. News 14 June 2018

    Education issues high on the WIPO agenda

    Through statements in plenary, organising a side event, meeting with delegates and collaborating with other civil society actors, Education International has reaffirmed the importance of advancing on international copyright exceptions at the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights of the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

    Education issues high on the WIPO agenda
  10. Worlds of Education 25 May 2018

    Go for it! The Bologna ministerial summit in Paris, by Andreas Keller

    Andreas Keller

    Isn’ it ironic? 50 years ago, in May 1968, students in Paris were going to the barricades and aspiring to a societal revolution – and initiated an overdue reform of higher education almost throughout Europe eventually. Today, in May 2018, ministers in charge of higher education from 48 countries belonging...

    Go for it! The Bologna ministerial summit in Paris, by Andreas Keller
  11. Research

    Quality and equalities: a comparative study of public and low-cost private schools in Lagos

    Elaine Unterhalter
    16 May 2018

    One of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria is rebuilding high-quality, free public education for all. State promises on this date back to the 1973 National Pledge and have been repeated in policies and declarations. However, repeated failures to fulfil these promises has led to private sector intervention, and the commercialisation...

    Quality and equalities: a comparative study of public and low-cost private schools in Lagos
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  12. Worlds of Education 16 May 2018

    Celebrating education’s unsung heroes, by David Edwards

    David Edwards

    In quality education systems around the world, behind student success there are invisible armies of education support personnel (ESP). These under-recognised workers are too often forgotten or ignored, but are absolutely vital for student success and wellbeing.

    Celebrating education’s unsung heroes, by David Edwards
  13. Worlds of Education 16 May 2018

    Quality Education for the most Marginalised: The roles of Education Support Personnel, by Mere Berryman

    Mere Berryman

    Many children and young people from across the world experience significant barriers to accessing the benefits that society offers through health, education and social services. This can impact negatively on their ability to function at school and in turn the wider community. For multiple reasons, these children and young people...

    Quality Education for the most Marginalised: The roles of Education Support Personnel, by Mere Berryman
  14. Worlds of Education 16 May 2018

    Discovering more about Education Support Personnel, by Philippa Butler

    Philippa Butler

    Education Support Personnel (ESP) play a vital role in promoting quality education, fostering a safe and positive learning environment for all students, and ensuring that schools and education institutions function effectively. ESP cover a wide range of people working in the education sector, such as teaching and learning assistants, school...

    Discovering more about Education Support Personnel, by Philippa Butler
  15. Worlds of Education 15 May 2018

    With every interaction in a school, we are either building community or destroying it, by Sean Slade

    Sean Slade

    "In addition to violence, bullying, and harassment in schools, many school personnel are combating low morale and increased stress levels. We are in an era of increased accountability and, as a consequence, increased repercussions. There are high-stakes tests tied to teacher and administrator evaluation, and many of us hear how...

    With every interaction in a school, we are either building community or destroying it, by Sean Slade