Ei-iE

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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. Research

    Study on the effects of structural adjustment policies in Burkina Faso

    17 January 2007

    In order to gather additional information on the impact of structural adjustment on education, as well as to assist teachers’ unions in the task of devising alternative strategies on education and structural adjustment and make member organisations more aware of the problems associated with structural adjustment, Education International decided to...

    Study on the effects of structural adjustment policies in Burkina Faso
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  2. News 10 January 2007

    Greece: Pan-Hellenic strike on 10 Jan against privatisation of higher education

    EI affiliates Didaskalikeh Omospondia Elladas (DOE) - the Greek Primary Teachers' Federation and the Omospondÿa Leitourgÿn Mÿsehÿ Ekpaÿdeysehÿ (OLME) - the Federation of Secondary School Teachers of Greece, will be participating in a "pan-Hellenic strike" against the privatisation of higher education in the country.

    Greece: Pan-Hellenic strike on 10 Jan against privatisation of higher education
  3. News 12 December 2006

    Resolution of the International Moscow Scientific and Practical Conference on “Trade Unions and the Bologna Process” from 29-30 November 2006

    Below is the English text of the resolution passed by the International Moscow Scientific and Practical Conference on “Trade Unions and the Bologna Process” which met from 29-30 November 2006. Organised by the the Education and Science Employee's Union of Russia (ESEUR) of Russia and the Syndicat des Travailleurs de...

    Resolution of the International Moscow Scientific and Practical Conference on “Trade Unions and the Bologna Process” from 29-30 November 2006
  4. News 4 December 2006

    Russia: International Conference on Trade Unions and the Bologna Process

    More than one hundred university staff and students gathered in Moscow, Russia from 29-30 November for an international conference on the Bologna Process organised by EI member organisations the Education and Science Employee's Union of Russia (ESEUR) of Russia and the Syndicat des Travailleurs de l'Education et de la Science...

    Russia: International Conference on Trade Unions and the Bologna Process
  5. 1 November 2006

    Unions seek greater input on testing

    Teachers around the globe are concerned about the impact of large-scale international testing, and its uses and abuses in development of national education policies.

    Unions seek greater input on testing
  6. News 17 October 2006

    International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - 17 October

    The promotion of peace, democracy, social justice and equality for all peoples and in all nations is at the core of Education International's mandate. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, celebrated on 17 October, is thus a good opportunity for EI and its member organisations to highlight the...

    International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - 17 October
  7. News 10 October 2006

    Prof. Katarina Tomasevski, the first-ever United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, died October 4, 2006 in Copenhagen. She was 52.

    "All of us at Education International wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Katarina’s family, friends and colleagues around the world," said General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.

    Prof. Katarina Tomasevski, the first-ever United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, died October 4, 2006 in Copenhagen. She was 52.
  8. News 5 October 2006

    Vocational Education Taskforce Meets in Brussels

    Education International’s taskforce on vocational education and globalization met in Brussels on October 4 to discuss a draft report and recommendations for the Executive Board.

    Vocational Education Taskforce Meets in Brussels
  9. News 26 September 2006

    STAND UP for the Millenium Development Goals on 15 October

    In support of the United Nations campaign for the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals, EI urges all education workers to take part in the STAND UP action to be held on 15-16 October.

    STAND UP for the Millenium Development Goals on 15 October
  10. 1 September 2006

    Academic freedom at risk in the knowledge society

    In 1992, when the Sinaia Statement on Academic Freedom and University Autonomy was adopted under the auspices of UNESCO, it stated: “history has shown that violations of academic freedom and institutional autonomy have high costs in intellectual regression, social alienation and economic stagnation.”

    Academic freedom at risk in the knowledge society
  11. News 27 July 2006

    New Argentine law reaffirms government's commitment to public education

    EI representatives meeting with the Argentine president on 26 July welcomed a new education law that reaffirms government's responsibility to provide quality public education for all. President Nestor Kirchner and Education Minister Daniel Filmus met with an EI delegation gathered in Buenos Aires for a workshop on challenges facing education...

    New Argentine law reaffirms government's commitment to public education
  12. News 13 July 2006

    EI participated at Council of Europe's Forum on Higher Education and Democratic Culture, Academic freedom

    EI participated at the Council of Europe's Forum on Higher Education and Democratic Culture 22- 23 June, Strasbourg, France . Participants comprised higher education leaders, student representatives and public policy makers from Europe, North America and other regions of the world.

    EI participated at Council of Europe's Forum on Higher Education and Democratic Culture, Academic freedom