In September 2015, the UN Member States adopted what is known as the “plan of action for people, planet and prosperity”- the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With 17 goals and 169 sub-goals, the Agenda seeks to end inequality, poverty and hunger; help build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; promote and protect human rights; advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and ensure the sustainable protection of the planet and its natural resources. Other goals in the Agenda include ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all (Goal 4). Unfortunately, some of the reports from the UN on the Sustainable Development Goals contain troubling data on education challenges, some of which are discussed in this paper. The COVID -19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 led to a complete closure of schools around the world, the effects of which are still being felt today. This led to disruption of children's daily routines, multiple forms of violence and exploitation, and a disturbing sense of insecurity and stress, all of which combined to exacerbate the education crisis. The pandemic has officially ended, but challenges remain numerous. It is also estimated that some of the children will never return to the education system. It will take years to stem out the growth of extreme poverty. Current generations are expected to be severely impacted by climate change, which will undoubtedly affect education. It is also particularly difficult to maintain an effective education system during armed conflicts. Among other devastating psycho-social and/or physical impacts on children, each of these conflicts undoubtedly leads to or exacerbates an educational crisis. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to analyze various current education challenges facing the international community today and their implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.