Ei-iE

Every week, Education International receives anxious requests from Bahraini students, parents and academics alarmed about the on-going infringements of academic freedom and human rights directed at professors, students, and staff at higher education institutions in Bahrain.

On 22 March, Portugal woke up to a general strike, supported by EI’s affiliate, Federaçao Nacional dos Professores (FENPROF). The devastating cuts to essential public services, including education, have essentially become an attack on the Portuguese people. Unions and civil society demand new social policy and a change in direction...

EI’s national affiliates in the UK, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the University and College Union (UCU), are calling a one-day strike in London on 28 March, as the next step in their pension campaign. Trade unionists are protesting against changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

After two previous postponements, the Bahraini Supreme Court of Appeal has scheduled a new hearing of the case of Bahraini Teachers’ Association leaders Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila Al Salman on 2 April. Both were arrested in April 2011 after a crackdown by authorities following pro-democracy demonstrations.

EI is deeply concerned after the recent coup attempt in Mali. The Syndicat national de l’Education et de la Culture (SNEC), its national affiliate, has told EI of the alarming level of violence currently raging through the north of the country, causing the closure of a large number of schools...

EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, said he was shocked after hearing that an unidentified gunman opened fire on the Ozar Hatorah school, a private Jewish college in Toulouse in south-west France.

“Far too many governments and political parties believe that their goal should be to run an education system in which powers are totally devolved to principals and there is a ferocious evaluation system for pupils, teachers and schools which keeps track on how the money is being spent,” said Susan...

EI European region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) organised, in cooperation with the European Trade Union Institute, a Seminar on Inclusive Vocational Education and Training (VET) during the Economic Crisis, held in Sesimbra, Portugal, from 8-10 March. This event aimed at providing education unions with information on...

South African education unions demand government measures to counter the trend of students leaving public schools to join private schools.

Public school teachers in Brazil have joined a national strike from 14-16 March. EI’s affiliate, Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Educação (CNTE), is coordinating the nationwide movement aiming at achieving two key demands.

EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, has sent a condolence letter to EI Belgian affiliates, sending EI’s deepest condolences to school communities directly affected, and particularly to families who have lost a child, sibling or partner, after a devastating bus crash. On 13 March, a bus carrying 52 people crashed...

EI regional office in Asia-Pacific has published its latest newsletter. It reviews the adoption of the EI Education Policy Paper at EI 6th World Congress. And it addresses the required education of union leaders in Asia-Pacific about this document, to guarantee education as a human right and a public good.

‘Schools take the lead’ was the theme of the first German school leaders’ Congress attended by over 1,200 school leaders from all over Germany, as well as Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Italy.

Over 400 education professionals along with lecturers (sociologists, academics and trade unionists) from Quebec and France, discussed the big issues in education today at the two-day Grand Rendez-vous de l’Education (Education Summit) 2012 hosted by its affiliate, Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), on 21-22 February 2012 in Laval.

From 14-15 March, Education Ministers, national and international union leaders and accomplished teachers from 24 countries and regions with high-performing and rapidly improving education systems will convene for the second international Summit on the Teaching Profession, in New York, USA. This year’s theme focuses on “Preparing Teachers and Developing School...

Spain’s female teachers of the Second Spanish Republic have received the award 8 de marzo, in acknowledgement of the important work carried out by them during the 1930s.

Education International (EI) urgently calls on teachers and human rights activists worldwide to request the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to stay the execution of Prof. Abdolreza Ghanbari, a university lecturer, sentenced to death for “enmity towards God”.

To mark International Women’s Day, 8th March, EI, which represents thirty million teachers and other education employees throughout the world, the majority of whom are women, is highlighting women’s and girls’ right to quality education and to economic empowerment. In this context, EI wishes to emphasise the intrinsic value of...