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 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. News 8 April 2011

    ELearning Africa’s reshaped news portal enhances education opportunities

    The website features new social media links, improved site navigation and enhanced multimedia to provide readers with the most relevant news and information in the field of ICT for Development and Education in Africa.

    ELearning Africa’s reshaped news portal enhances education opportunities
  5. 31 March 2011

    Financial Transaction Tax: a small fee for global justice

    Across the globe, anti-poverty activists are channelling the spirit of Robin Hood, who stood up against a sheriff’s unfair taxes. Today’s crusaders are actually in favour of a tax but it is one that takes from the richest and gives to the poorest.

    Financial Transaction Tax: a small fee for global justice
  6. 29 March 2011

    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. EI firmly believes that governments have the know-how and resources to ensure everyone has the chance to learn...

    Global Action Week 2011
  7. News 29 March 2011

    Canada: education is a key issue in major elections

    The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), EI’s largest affiliate in Canada, has responded to the Prime Minister’s call for early federal elections on 2 May by asking people to “vote for candidates who give priority to education and public programs that support the well-being of children and youth.”

    Canada: education is a key issue in major elections
  8. 28 March 2011

    Inter-cultural education and co-existence in school

    A new model of integration is emerging based on an equally integrationist curriculum in education centres. Secondary school teachers usually take a positive approach to inter-cultural education, although there is an evident correlation between the favourable attitudes of teachers and their training.

    Inter-cultural education and co-existence in school
  9. 25 March 2011

    Multilingualism: a reality for classes in European countries

    It is recommended that immigrant parents speak their language at home. In some poorer parts of London, employees at crèches and some NGO organisations regularly provide books for immigrant families to read to their children in their own language or in English. This is being done so that pre-schooling gets...

    Multilingualism: a reality for classes in European countries
  10. 25 March 2011

    EI finds inadequate attention for Early Childhood Education

    Findings from a new study conducted by EI’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Task Force reveal that, while ECE continues to receive more attention across the globe, progress has been uneven and much more remains to be done.

    EI finds inadequate attention for Early Childhood Education
  11. 25 March 2011

    Chile: education thrown open to the market

    “When it comes to education, Chile is the best of all possible worlds for the privileged.” Fernando Atria, University of Chile

    Chile: education thrown open to the market
  12. 25 March 2011

    England: Students face exorbitant tuition fees

    When the recently elected Conservative and Liberal British government announced that it wanted to transfer the burden of funding education from the state to students, the UCU and its allies from student, parent and teaching all came together to build the first wave of opposition to cuts in vital public...

    England: Students face exorbitant tuition fees
  13. 25 March 2011

    Santo Domingo: Teachers demand ‘four per cent for education’

    The ’four per cent for education’ campaign in Santo Domingo is neither whimsical nor propaganda. It is a fully-costed response to a need that has legal and institutional grounds for support.

    Santo Domingo: Teachers demand ‘four per cent for education’
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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'
  17. 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