Ei-iE

Over the course of its Seventh World Congress, important addendums were added to Education International’s Education Policy Paper. The addendums covered privatisation, use of information and communication technology, financing, leadership, and equity and inclusion.

The Education Policy Paper, ‘Building the Future through Quality Education’, was adopted by the Sixth World Congress in 2011.

Privatisation

On behalf of the Education International (EI) Executive Board, President Susan Hopgood proposed the Enabling Resolution (1) on the Privatisation of education services. “Increasing privatisation is the greatest threat to education as a public good and to the equality and quality of the education system,” she said. Amongst the additions to the Policy Paper are an expression of EI’s opposition to the implementation of privatisation policies, deregulation, and the reduction of public services in the name of reducing government deficits and expanding education.

Use of ICT

“Information and communications technology (ICT) must not be seen as an alternative to adequate funding for quality learning. It enhances quality teaching and learning,” said Emily Noble, a departing member of the EI Executive Board and former president of CTF, proposing Enabling Resolution (2) on the Use of Information and Communications Technology. This resolution expands and clarifies EI’s policy position and the role of unions in the use of ICT in education. Contributors to the debate raised the need to engage with ICT and use it to the advantage of the teacher and student.

The resolution includes measures to promote and ensure the appropriate use of ICT in education. EI will liaise with its members and governments about the best and most appropriate use of ICT in education.

Leadership

Additional principles around the roles and rights of leaders were covered in Enabling Resolution (3), Leadership in educational institutions. “While promoting the professional autonomy of school leaders, it is important that school leaders are not only administrators but that they are also pedagogical leaders. We believe they need training in pedagogical leadership,” said Ragnhild Lied, president of the Union of Education Norway who proposed the resolution on behalf of the Executive Board.

Contributors to the debate highlighted the collaborative nature of school leadership given the broad scope of the school leader’s role in today’s challenging education and economic circumstances.

Financing

Enabling Resolution (4), Financing of education, addresses issues such as the need for sufficient public financing of education, a global commitment to financing education, and the design of public financing to ensure that all citizens have equitable access to fee-free quality education.

Proposing the resolution on behalf of EI’s Executive Board, Sonia Alesso (CTERA, Argentina), said: “Education and its financing should respect and promote equity and social justice and should guarantee access to free education from the crib up to higher education, budgets should be transparent and be subject to public scrutiny.”

Equity and inclusion

The Enabling Resolution (5): Equitable and inclusive education was proposed on behalf of the Executive Board by Maria Teresa Cabrera, ADP (Dominican Republic). “Millions of children worldwide are unable to access education and many who do are unable to complete the full cycle of quality education,” she said. “States are responsible for guaranteeing the right to quality education for all. In order to make sure that states fulfil this responsibility, the government is responsible for implementing policies focused on equity. But for this to happen, we as education unions have to keep putting pressure on our governments.”