Education International World Congress to defend free education in crucial year for development
Develop strategies to protect public education systems, reclaim the teaching profession and strengthen teachers unions are the top priorities for Education International’s Seventh World Congress during a “significant year for education.”
In September the new UN Sustainable Development Goals will be adopted, setting the global agenda for the next 15 years. This week Education International (EI), the world’s largest organisation of teachers’ unions, holds its Seventh World Congress in Ottawa, Canada where it will set its own agenda to see that education for all becomes a reality.
“This congress will define our objectives for the next four years, and most importantly in the context of this year 2015, we will send a clear message to governments,” said EI President Susan Hopgood as she addressed the media in Ottawa, Canada.
The congress, taking place from 22-26 July, will see nearly 2,000 delegates representing teachers’ unions from 173 countries debate and adopt education policies and the future of the teaching profession.
The General Secretary of EI, Fred van Leeuwen made clear the overall objective of the congress: “reclaiming the teaching profession in a world where the value of teaching is being threatened by standardised methods and commercialisation.” Van Leeuwen stressed that “education is a right” and that it must be free and accessible so that all children have the same opportunity to learn.
Hopgood focused on the new UN Goals, specifically the standalone education goal to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and which promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all.“As long as even one child is denied access to education, this is one too many,” she said.
The EI President turned her attention to the important issue of financing that is needed to make all of the goals achievable. She said that “$100 billion USD can be found if we tackle tax avoidance,” which could be used to send every child to school and achieve the global development goals.
To learn about all of the policies to be discussed at the Seventh World Congress, and for the full programme, visit the Congress website here.
