With only 5 years remaining to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, global education targets hang in the balance. 

Delivering on the promise of SDG 4 means seriously addressing critical challenges in access, learning, education in crisis settings and financing education. If no additional measures are taken, only one in six countries will meet SDG 4 and achieve universal access to quality education by 2030.

Education is one of the best investments societies can make to build a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous future, and political leadership is at the heart of achieving this. 

Parliamentarians can leverage their position to take action and close the gap between the promise of SDG 4 and the current reality.

International Day of Education 2025

The beginning of 2025 marks five years until the Sustainable Development Goals fall due. To recognise the moment, we launched a briefing on the International Day of Education held 24th January 2025.

The briefing, ‘Countdown to 2030: Actions to deliver SDG 4. A briefing for parliamentarians to mark the International Day of Education’, outlines actions members of parliament can take to drive change and close the gap in education for those furthest behind.

Faced with significant challenges and limited resources, countries must focus on evidence-based actions to bridge gaps for those furthest behind. This means ensuring access to education, building foundational skills for children, supporting education in emergencies and increasing education financing.

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