Education International Research
1. I ntroduction: Educators Assess Progress Towards SDG 4 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an intergovernmental commitment to work towards a better world. It comprises 17 interlinking goals that form a blueprint for transformative change. Governments adopted this ambitious plan for action in 2015, committing to achieve the goals by 2030. However, four years later, time is ticking and only 11 years remain for governments to fulfil their promises to transform our society and planet. It is therefore necessary to ask ourselves whether we are on track to achieve the goals by 2030. What progress has been made? Where are we lagging behind, and where has no progress been made? This report offers an assessment of the progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 over the last four years from the perspective of educators.1
SDG 4 Education International (EI) campaigned vigorously for a stand-alone goal on education in the SDGs and a specific focus on educators. As one of the 17 goals, education is given the prominence it deserves in the 2030 Agenda. The ambitious SDG 4 goal, “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”, calls on governments to go far beyond the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and Education for All. Whilst the previous agendas focused on expanding access to basic education in low-income countries, SDG 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable access to quality education for all, at all levels, as part of a global commitment for both the Global North and Global South. The goal is operationalised through ten distinct targets. The Education 2030 Framework for Action (FFA)2, adopted by 184 states, provides guidance for the implementation of SDG 4. It outlines the visions and principles upon which SDG 4 is based, provides rationales and indicative strategies for each of the targets, and gives guidance on modalities for implementation including governance, accountability and coordination. GRO.EI-IE 0302 NOITA CUDE
1 The term “educators” is used in this report as a general term that encompasses teachers, researchers and education support personnel. 2 E ducation 2030. 2015. Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4. p. 54. Retrieved from: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000245656
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