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. 25 March 2011

    MDG Summit reaffirms support for gender equity

    Heads of state and government joined international and research organisations, as well as civil society groups, trade unions, and the private sector, in New York, from 20-22 September, to check on progress made towards attainment of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    MDG Summit reaffirms support for gender equity
  2. News 24 March 2011

    UK: Unions march for alternative economic choices and growth

    EI’s British member organisations are backing their national Trades Union Congress (TUC) call for action and will join a March for the Alternative on 26 March.

    UK: Unions march for alternative economic choices and growth
  3. News 23 March 2011

    EI General Secretary tells Summit 'nations are built on public schools'

    At the International Summit on the Teaching Profession, EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, has told participants of a "global consensus that the teaching profession is the most crucial in-school factor to achieving high quality education."

    EI General Secretary tells Summit 'nations are built on public schools'
  4. News 18 March 2011

    Teachers celebrate Global Action Week 2011

    Global Action Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness and call on governments around the world to keep their promises on the UN Millennium Development Goal of achieving Education for All.

    Teachers celebrate Global Action Week 2011
  5. News 4 March 2011

    GCE General Assembly elects new Board

    A new Global Campaign for Education (GCE) Board has been elected to steer the movement for the next three years at the 4th GCE General Assembly held 23-24 February in Paris.

    GCE General Assembly elects new Board
  6. News 1 March 2011

    GMR 2011: Armed conflict stalls EFA progress

    Armed conflict is destroying the hopes and aspirations of generations of children, youth and adults on a previously undocumented scale, reveals the 2011 edition of the Education for All Global Monitoring Report (GMR).

    GMR 2011: Armed conflict stalls EFA progress
  7. News 23 February 2011

    ‘Teachers are the sans-culottes of the education revolution’

    EI’s General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, has told activists at the GCE General Assembly that “resources for investment in education, for the future of our children and young people are there. It takes political will to make them available!”

    ‘Teachers are the sans-culottes of the education revolution’
  8. News 16 February 2011

    WSF: Poverty and child labour undermine quality education

    EI and its affiliates have participated in workshops on early childhood education and child labour in western Africa at the World Social Forum which has been held in Dakar, Senegal.

    WSF: Poverty and child labour undermine quality education
  9. News 16 February 2011

    EI supports global day of action for Financial Transactions Tax

    EI is set to join other global union federations and civil society organisations to organise a global day of action in support of the Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) on 17 February, to coincide with the meeting of G20 finance ministers in Paris.

    EI supports global day of action for Financial Transactions Tax
  10. News 14 February 2011

    Wear a pink heart for quality public education!

    The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is encouraging everybody to wear a pink heart on 14 February, Valentine’s Day, as a symbol of love for quality education and public services.

    Wear a pink heart for quality public education!
  11. News 9 February 2011

    OECD: Pre-school pupils are still better readers aged 15

    Children who have been in pre-school education are likely to be much better readers when they are aged 15, reveals a study of international test results.

    OECD: Pre-school pupils are still better readers aged 15
  12. News 9 February 2011

    Demands grow for Francophone community to play greater EFA role

    The Bureau of Francophone Teachers’ Union Committee (CSFEF) has expressed concern at the weak role played by the International Organisation of Francophonie (IOF) in Education for All alliances.

    Demands grow for Francophone community to play greater EFA role
  13. News 8 February 2011

    Canada: CTF conference tackles issues facing families

    Participants at the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) Women's Symposium have debated issues facing families including violence; poverty reduction; marginalisation of children; diversity and healthy lifestyles at a three-day event.

    Canada: CTF conference tackles issues facing families
  14. News 31 January 2011

    Teachers join voices on Education for All in Africa

    Teacher unionists from around the world have called for renewed investment in education and teachers to ensure Africa’s future and to meet Education For All commitments on the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers.

    Teachers join voices on Education for All in Africa
  15. News 13 January 2011

    US and Canadian teachers share learning for strong public education

    The underlying reasons for Canada’s educational success have been explored in a joint learning exercise between the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) and the USA’s National Education Association (NEA).

    US and Canadian teachers share learning for strong public education