Ei-iE

Across the world, Education International’s affiliates marked World Teachers’ Day with a vast variety of events and projects, from school plays to parades and conferences to celebrate the heads of the class.

October 5 is a special day for educators. World Teachers’ Day (WTD) provides the opportunity to celebrate those passionate for education and especially for those who dedicate their work to making quality education a reality: the teachers.

Africa

The Gambia Teachers’ Union (GTU) organised a panel discussion focused on early childhood education (ECE) as the foundation for the growth and future development of all children, including speeches and comments by teachers, government officials, and partners from all over the country.

The Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA) hosted more than 250 participants from 2-3 October, in collaboration with the Madda Walabu University and other stakeholders to take part in a two-day high-level conference on the WTD theme, “Empowering teachers, building sustainable societies.” The ETA also presented its Teacher of the Year Award as part of its advocacy activity to promote the profession.

In Cameroon, the Syndicat des Travailleurs des Etablissements Scolaires Privés du Cameroun (SYNTESPRIC) organised events to increase public awareness about the situation of teachers’ precarious work in the private education sector, and to increase the size of trade union ranks. Part of the celebrations included a football match between primary and secondary teachers and a training session for teachers about rights and employer obligations in education.

The Somalia National Union of Teachers (SNUT) held a four-hour symposium in the country’s capital city, Mogadishu, on 5 October. This event, to celebrate and empower teachers, was attended by the union’s leadership, members, government officials, and other key stakeholders. At the symposium, attention was given to challenges facing the Somali education sector, such as gaps in girls’ education, lagging education infrastructure, and the low teacher salaries.

Asia-Pacific

The Central Organisation of Teachers (COT) of Pakistan highlighted the fact that a teacher shortage is undermining the education quality in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab. Representatives of the COT met with the Education Minister and the Education Secretary to find ways to fill the vacant teacher posts, and presented them with the union’s memorandum for quality education for all.

In Tonga, the Friendly Islands Teachers' Association (FITA) took part in various television and radio programmes that included teachers and parents, focused on teacher ethics, and invited communities to reflect on teacher empowerment. A consultation was also held between the FITA executive and the prime minister, who is also minister of education. In addition, FITA executive board members met to finalise processes and strategies to empower teachers and build sustainable societies, and to report the outcomes to the minister of education and the government.

Europe

The Kazakhstan Trade Union of Education and Science Workers (KTUESW) jointly hosted, with the Ministry of Education and Science, a festive evening in honour of the national Labour Day and WTD, on 30 September, in Astana. Other celebratory events were also held throughout the country, with special attention directed to young professionals who have made a major contribution to the development and strengthening of education.

The Latvian Educational and Scientific Workers' Trade Union (LIZDA) surveyed teachers, school administration, and members of parliament (MPs). From 21-25 September, “Shadow Days” were held where MPs and politicians visited schools and participated for one day in a teacher’s usual working environment. The LIZDA also organised discussions from 5-9 October in five regions in Latvia, where teachers’ motivation and empowerment and the results of the “Shadow Days” were debated.

The Union of Education Norway also had a poster illustrating the trade union’s WTD campaign published in all major Norwegian newspapers on 5 October.

The Federación de Enseñanza CC.OO. (F.E.CC.OO.) in Spain encouraged people to send teachers e-cards. – read here.

Latin America

The Confederación General de Trabajadores de la Educación de Nicaragua(CGTEN-ANDEN) produced a video thanking teachers and telling them to be proud of their profession.

North America and Caribbean

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) invited its member organisations and teachers to engage from 5-19 October in social media activities with the aim of generating discussion on a plethora of education topics. Read more here.

Leading up to WTD, the Union nationale des normaliens d' Haïti(UNNOH) organised a “Weekend of Education and Teachers” from the 2-4 October. The event included panel discussions on teaching profession, succeeding in Haiti. For more info on various art exhibitions and teacher awards, read here.