Ei-iE

Education unions from twelve Arab countries met on 7 and 8 October in Beirut to establish a new Arab organisation to promote education quality, the status of teachers and democratic development in their countries.

Some union leaders are not satisfied with the existing federation Federation of Arab Teachers (FAT), which they believe not to be active enough and too dependent on governments and education authorities. Moreover, the Federation only represents one organisation per country, mostly government-supported ones. However, in the past few years many new and independent teachers' organisations were set up in the region whose voices are not sufficiently represented at the regional level.

With some countries in the region suffering from insurgency and war, and others having to cope with an ever growing number of refugees, school systems are either not functioning, such as in Syria and Yemen, or are overburdened, as is the case in Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan. The safety and security of students and teachers as well as the lack of respect for teachers' civil rights and professional freedoms are among the many other challenges that require strong and effective regional cooperation.

EI affiliates from Kuwait and Lebanon explain that the new Arab Organization for Education (AOE) will be composed of labour unions and professional associations with different political and religious backgrounds, most of them affiliated to EI. "It will focus on labour issues and educational and professional challenges and will coordinate its work with EI", says Meteb Al Outaiby from the Kuwaiti Teachers Association.

EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen, who attended part of the meeting, said that regional cooperation is more important than ever. "If we want to be effective and successful,we need to be united and speak with one voice,” he said.