This blog post was originally published on the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Education for All Blog on 29 October, 2025.
Around the world, financial barriers continue to weigh on the future of the teaching profession, to the detriment of inclusion and equity in education systems.
The profession faces numerous shortcomings, both in terms of the number of qualified teachers and funding to support new teachers as well as those already in post.
The Santiago Consensus invites actors in the education sector to recognize the seriousness and urgency of the crisis affecting the teaching profession, while advocating for stronger and more comprehensive policies.
Can we afford not to act?
By 2030, it is projected that 44 million new teachers will be needed worldwide to ensure quality education for all, at an estimated annual cost of nearly US$120 billion.
Regions experiencing rapid population growth are expected to be the most affected by the shortage, due to the need to create new teaching positions.
Overcrowded classrooms have become a serious problem in low-income countries, where the teacher-to-student ratio is 52 to 1, compared to 15 to 1 in high-income countries.
To build a future based on inclusion, equity, gender, equality, and education for all, global cooperation and solidarity are essential. Now is the time to invest in teachers.
Mobilizing the international community within a consultative process
The Santiago Consensus defines a common vision and priorities for consolidating the teaching profession globally.
It was developed under the auspices of UNESCO as part of a broad consultative process involving the network of the International Task Force on Teachers, the High-Level Steering Committee for SDG 4 – Education 2030, youth networks, as well as teachers and their organizations.
It reaffirms the indispensable role of teachers as a pillar of education and calls for swift action to strengthen teacher policies.
The consensus was adopted at the conclusion of the World Teachers Summit , a two-day high-level meeting that brought together political leaders, representatives of teachers, international organizations and key players in the education sector, organised by UNESCO and the Chilean government.
This summit marked a decisive turning point in the global dialogue, fostering discussions on issues related to teacher shortages, funding and policy harmonization, as well as the rapid evolution of the digital age.
Investing in teachers for lasting impact
The Santiago Consensus defines a series of commitments made by governments and actors in the education sector with a view to achieving a common goal: maintaining educational systems that promote the well-being, professional development and the various skills of teachers.
Sustainable funding has emerged as one of the most pressing issues facing the teaching profession. To make progress, we must promote transparency and accountability.
Building on this shared understanding, the International Task Force on Teachers used the Summit to amplify this call to action. It participated in sessions dedicated to financing and published a new document , developed in collaboration with UNESCO, focusing on cost assessment and financing the teaching profession as a strategic investment in education.
This document underlines that sustainable funding for the teaching profession is essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4. It calls for renewed political commitment and evidence-based strategic measures to ensure more effective budgeting, while highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable investment in teachers.
Funding equity and accountability
The document moves from strategy to implementation and also stresses the importance of mobilizing national resources for teachers by prioritizing education in national budgets and establishing legal guarantees for its funding, including through a minimum budget allocation set by law.
Donors and international partners are encouraged to strengthen coordination at national and global levels and to promote collective bargaining with a view to fair wage structures, comprehensive social benefits and protection against precarious employment contracts.
This message aligns with the Seville Commitment , the final document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, which supports "appropriate financing to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education for all".
Implementing the Santiago Consensus
We are currently behind schedule in achieving SDG 4, which aims to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all".
As a global education community, we need to design long-term investment strategies that promote fair recruitment, just compensation, continuous professional development, and improved working conditions.
This shared goal of education for all cannot be achieved without significant financial commitments.
The fundraising campaign aims to mobilize donor resources to replenish its funds dedicated to quality education for all and to reverse the trend in the face of the global teaching and learning crisis.
Co-organized by Nigeria and Italy, the 5th GPE funding campaign has set ambitious goals: to raise $5 billion for the GPE fund and unlock an additional $10 billion in co-financing from development banks, bilateral donors, the private sector and philanthropic partners.
If these goals are achieved, they will transform the education systems of 96 low-income and lower-middle-income countries and territories.
Collective action for teachers, with teachers
The Santiago Consensus is an announcement of a common contribution and a global call to rethink education as a collaborative and ongoing journey, based on trust, respect and investment.
The voices of teachers and the participation of young people must guide the development of quality policies aimed at attracting, supporting and retaining dedicated educators.
The time has come to establish ambitious international cooperation and sustainable funding to implement these policies.
Together, we can ensure that every teacher has the necessary resources to act, that every student is inspired, and that every classroom becomes a space of inclusion, equity, peace, and hope.
Let's transform the Santiago commitments into collective action for teachers, with teachers.
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Photo credit: GPE/Kelley Lynch