Ei-iE

The 5th International Conference on Higher Education and Research ended on 9 December with the adoption of a General Report and a Statement to the delegations of the 6th WTO Ministerial meeting concerning GATS and education, which will be held in Hong Kong this week.

Government plans for school reform could open the door to religious extremists, teachers are warning.

EI sent a clear message to the authorities of Montenegro on 9 December that the latter has to sign the "Branch Collective Agreement for Education" as stipulated in the General Collective Agreement in 2004.

The European Region of Education International, which represents 143 teacher organisations in 44 European countries, passed a resolution in its meeting in Luxemburg from 6-7 Dec, declaring its support for Romanian teachers.

The 5th International Conference on Higher Education and Research of EI opened on 7 Dec in Melbourne, Australia, with heightened union resolve to meet the various challenges confronting the sector today.

The EI Pan-European Structure that met from 6-7 Dec in Luxemburg passed a resolution on Bulgaria,calling on the Bulgarian government to respect the striking teachers' rights and meet their demands. The European Region of EI represents a total of 143 teacher organisations in 44 countries.

Together with Bureau for Workers' Activities at the International Labour Organisation (ILO ACTRAV) and the Global Union Research Network (GURN), the Global Unions have produced a report on successful cases of trade union resistance and the development of alternatives to the policies of the International Financial Institutions (IFI).

EI affiliate in Germany the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) denounces the application of the European Union Services Directive to education.

EI affiliates in the United States of America, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), both denounce the fact that teacher salaries are lagging behind rising inflation rates.

The UK government has accepted a recommendation from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) to increase all salary points by 2.5% in 2006 and a further 2.5% in 2007.

EI affiliate the Australian Education Union has expressed concerns about “Teaching Australia,” a national professional body announced by the government and aimed at enhancing the professional status of teachers and teaching.

"Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance...

As a consultative partner of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), EI will be participating in the 50th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW), which will be held in New York, USA, from 27 February to 10 March 2006.

Secondary school teachers from across Bulgaria may go on general strike according to Yanka Takeva, head of EI affiliate Syndicat des Enseignants Bulgares (SEB).

Members of EI affiliates the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) and Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) will attend demonstrations on 9th December in support of Irish Ferry Workers.

The appeals court has denied bail to Rong Chhun, the president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), who has been imprisoned by the Cambodian authorities since his arrest on 15 October.

Members of EI affiliates NATFHE and the AUT have voted overwhelmingly for their unions to merge and create the world’s largest union for post-school academic and academic-related staff, with more than 110,000 members.

Kindergarten teachers belonging to EI affiliate NZEI Te Riu Roa have voted 97% in favour of striking on 8th December.