Ei-iE

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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 24 June 2011

    South Africa: SADTU unites with civil society for quality education

    The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) is taking up the Council of Global Unions’ Quality Public Services – Action Now! campaign by joining the civil society organisation, Equal Education, to hold a People's Summit for Quality Education.

    South Africa: SADTU unites with civil society for quality education
  2. Research

    Impacts of IMF policies on national education budgets and teachers

    Rick Rowden
    23 June 2011

    This Education International Research Institute report provides a critical review of how current IMF macroeconomic policy conditions and advice impact on the ability of borrowing countries to finance national education budgets, wages for public sector teachers, and how such policies affect the ability of governments to achieve the progressive realization...

    Impacts of IMF policies on national education budgets and teachers
    1. Download
  3. News 23 June 2011

    EI launches ‘Bring a Book to Congress’ appeal

    On UN Public Services Day, EI has launched an appeal for school libraries in South Africa, which are in a desperate state. Only seven per cent of public schools have functional libraries; 13 per cent have a library space without books or a librarian; and a massive 79 per cent...

    EI launches ‘Bring a Book to Congress’ appeal
  4. News 22 June 2011

    European trade unions demand change of economic governance

    EI has supported the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urgent and clear message to European decision-makers: European governance means strengthening – not attacking – its social model.

    European trade unions demand change of economic governance
  5. News 8 June 2011

    Czech Republic: Inclusive education experts resign at government inaction

    EI has expressed concern at the resignation of more than 50 experts from a Czech Education Ministry Working Group which was supposed to design a plan to improve disadvantaged children’s education.

    Czech Republic: Inclusive education experts resign at government inaction
  6. News 25 May 2011

    New OECD Index shows education contributes to better life

    Education is one of the 11 most essential dimensions for a better life, according to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

    New OECD Index shows education contributes to better life
  7. News 25 May 2011

    Trade unions demand coherence for decent work G20 high-level conference

    The Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has called on leaders meeting at the G20 high-level conference on Strengthening Economic and Social Policy Coherence to take action to achieve decent work standards.

    Trade unions demand coherence for decent work G20 high-level conference
  8. News 19 May 2011

    Schools must be inclusive spaces for teachers and students with disabilities

    Since beginning of May, 100 states have signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. EI welcomes the commitment of states to create more inclusive societies and demands concrete steps to move from paper to practice.

    Schools must be inclusive spaces for teachers and students with disabilities
  9. News 17 May 2011

    EI and Oxfam launch the Quality Educators for All Programme

    More than fifty teacher unions and partner organisations’ representatives attended the launch of the EI/Oxfam Novib (Oxfam Netherlands) Quality Educator for All Programme on 17 May at EI’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

    EI and Oxfam launch the Quality Educators for All Programme
  10. News 29 April 2011

    Global Action Week 2011 begins

    Education International (EI) and its affiliates worldwide will participate in several actions around the theme of women and girl’s education on the occasion of Global Action Week (GAW), from 2-8 May.

    Global Action Week 2011 begins
  11. News 20 April 2011

    Survey finds poverty hitting pupils' learning

    A survey by the ATL (UK) teachers' union has found that many pupils living in poverty come to school hungry, tired and in worn-out clothes.

    Survey finds poverty hitting pupils' learning
  12. News 14 April 2011

    Global Unions demand more equitable and sustainable growth and development

    The Council of Global Unions, to which EI belongs, has issued a statement to the 2011 meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to demand they “pay as much attention to employment deficits as they do to fiscal deficits and to take co-ordinated action to support job...

    Global Unions demand more equitable and sustainable growth and development
  13. News 12 April 2011

    Bob Harris completes 17 years as TUAC Chair

    Bob Harris, EI Senior Consultant has chaired the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Education, Training and Employment Policy since 1994, shortly after the creation of EI.

    Bob Harris completes 17 years as TUAC Chair