Ei-iE

In support of Nigerien education personnel and their union SNEN, EI voiced its strong protests over the government's unilateral decision to reduce teacher salary in a letter dated 3 May. EI reminds the country's President that teaching is a profession and not a voluntary work.

EI recently commisioned an article by Ugandan journalist about the everyday life of local teachers. To give the world an insight into the hardships and challenges faced by teachers in the impoverished country, Harriette Athieno Onyalla met with several of them, who told her of the hopes and disappointments they...

EI issued a formal letter to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia on 4 Apr, protesting against the ruling of the Ethiopian Federal High Court on 30 March to recognise the government-sponsored Ethiopian Teacher Association instead of the authentic Ethiopian Teacher Association affiliated to EI.

EI affiliate the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called on its members to brace for a nationwide strike should the Government fail to implement the remaining phase of their salary increase scheme.

More than 5,000 temporary teachers have been permanently absorbed by the Limpopo education department with effect from the beginning of April.

Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun caused a sensation among teachers, saying “It is the teacher who is the most strongly opposed to social change.” at a gathering with Korean compatriots in Egypt.

EI witnessed another dramatic development affecting teachers and their union in Ethiopia. On Thursday 30 March 2006, the Ethiopian Federal High Court ruled that the authentic ETA leadership (EI's affiliate) has to hand over every asset and property of the association to a government-sponsored group also called ETA.

After several weeks of locking horns with government negotiators, officials of EI affiliate the Bahamas Union of Teachers have instructed public school teachers to go on "work to rule" and threatened that more serious action could follow.

EI affiliate the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) reports that 544 teachers in the Southern region have not been paid properly as the result of a new Payroll System.

Within the framework of Global Action Week's activities to be held from 24th to 30th April, EI issued an open letter on 30 March, signed by the President and General Secretary of EI, recalling the issues behind this year's message "Every Child Needs a Teacher".

EI affiliate the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has welcomed the formal establishment of the Teaching Council as the professional body for Ireland's teachers.

The General Council of EI affiliate the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) has rejected the government's wage offer for the 2006 to 2008 contract period.

On March 23, EI affiliates the Association of University Teachers (AUT) and the University and College Lecturers’ Union (NATFHE) organised a conference on “Brain Drain” as the final stage of a two-year project on the subject, which had its origins within the EI’s higher education debates.

Various trade unions showed support for EI affiliate the Malta Union of Teachers' (MUT) directive for a one-hour strike in state schools today.