Ei-iE

The National Federation of Teachers in Congo (FENECO/UNTC), one of the affiliates of EI in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), organised a workshop on the “Role of teachers in the objectives of Education for All.” This workshop brought together 25 members from the trade union’s executive committee in Kinshasa from 10 to 12 July.

Jean Bui, a UNESCO expert, talked with the participants for 3 hours on the status, career and remuneration of teaching staff.  The exchanges will contribute to his study which is to be published at the end of July 2012.

Child labour was also broached:  Sub-working groups were set up and each replied to a question, whilst guidance was provided by the Coordination for the Promotion of Young People and Culture/FENECO, relying on the EI kit devoted to this problem.

Providing Education for All

In the FENECO/UNTC declaration published after the work sessions, recommendations from the participants to the Government included, in particular, recommendations

• to improve the living and working conditions of teachers and other education personnel in the RDC; to offer them decent housing as a matter of urgency;
• to integrate the trade unions representing teachers and other educators effectively into all democratic structures for the management of the education system in the DCRC;
• to adopt laws that provide protection for teachers’ representatives against arbitrary disciplinary measures in the private sector;
• to provide free primary education for all effectively without undermining the teaching profession at this level;
• to adopt deduction of union dues at source so as to enable the trade unions to function well;
• to publicise the legislation concerning the education system already enacted; and,
• to make the population aware of – and mobilise it to support – the importance of basic education.

Guarantee decent working conditions for teachers

The participants called on trade unions, in particular, to organise training and awareness-raising sessions for their members; to create a strong inter-union basis for each subsector of education, with free, independent and democratic trade unions; and, to publicise the legislation pertaining to teachers and education personnel.

From 4th to 8th July, an earlier roundtable, which brought together public authorities and human rights activists, had enabled more than three hundred people from every corner of the country, including representatives of education trade unions, to collaborate on the question of Human Rights in the DRC.

Protect human rights

The participants proceeded, in particular, to amend and adopt a bill for the protection of human rights; a bill on the creation of an independent national commission on human rights; a bill on the implementation of the Rome Statute; and a bill on the creation of a mixed, specialised court, as well as the establishment of the constitutional court provided for in the Constitution and different mechanisms for the protection of human rights activists in the DRC.

A press conference brought the last day to a close to present the Kinshasa declaration to journalists.  On the same day, a team drew up the declaration of human rights activists on the security situation in the DRC.

Trade unions are vital for democracy and social progress

The EI Chief Regional Coordinator for Africa, Assibi Napoe, emphasised that “in Africa, the trade union organisations in the education sector are essential for democratic development and social progress.”

“I am delighted with this FENECO initiative. It responds to the vital importance of trade union education and the development of leadership capacities for trade unions. The development of a trade union culture that is conducive to cohesion and the eradication of internal conflicts and divisions must play an essential role in bringing harmony to society in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

“EI is very concerned about how most African governments violate national and international legal instruments for the defence and promotion of trade union rights, in particular the right to collective bargaining and to involve trade unions in defining national education policies,” she added.

For independent and strong Africa education trade unions

The Africa region resolution adopted by the EI 6th World Congress held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 22 to 26 July 2011, declared EI’s ongoing commitment to “the promotion of free, independent and democratic representative trade unions in the education sector whose statues and programmes are based on adherence to the principles guaranteed in the relevant conventions and declarations of the ILO.”

It also called upon EI to help member organisations to develop a constructive internal policy dialogue with a view to encouraging structural unity, or unity of action, favouring the eradication of divisions between these organisations.

Finally, it emphasised the need for a sustained effort on the part of EI and the other development partners so that trade unions in the education sector in Africa work together to ensure that teachers speak with one voice.

To read the resolution in its entirety, click here.