Asia-Pacific
PGRI-EI consortium project in Indonesia
Rey Dolot represented EI at three meetings of the Persatuan Guru Republik Indonesia(PGRI)-EI consortium project in Indonesia:
From 25-27 July, in Jakarta, national training was provided on the improved membership information system software. This followed up on training in 2015 for PGRI political leaders responsible for the membership and union staff participating in the PGRI-EI Consortium Project.
From 28-30 July, in Jakarta, training was held on the finance information system application in a bid to help the union maximise its resources. It is expected that, by 2018, both software systems will be fully integrated, making the monitoring of dues payment and distribution more efficient, transparent and systematic.
From 29-31 August, in Palembang, a pilot district workshop on education campaigns and teachers rights addressed education issues at district levels in Indonesia. Priorities identified included the harassment of teachers by students and parents over misinterpretation of discipline, the lack of and improper distribution of teachers, contract teachers, and the existence of two parallel curricula.
Workshop on minority rights–LGBTI in The Philippines
The workshop on minority rights–lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, held in Manila, The Philippines, from 2-4 August, helped participants to understand and identify strategies on how to defend minority rights. The workshop was attended by members of EI affiliates: the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, the Samahang Manggagawang Pilipino-National Alliance of Teachers and Office Workers, the Teachers' Organisation of the Philippine Public Sector, the Federation of Free Workers-Trade Federation VIII, and the Philippine Public School Teachers' Association. Participants identified common gender stereotypes, homophobia, bullying and discrimination, and learned how to promote inclusive education. Pathma Krishnan represented EI.
Sub-regional workshop on SDGs: Driving the Education 2030 Agenda in the SAARC sub-region
This workshop was organised by the EI Asia-Pacific office (EIAP) from 9-11 August in New Delhi, India. It highlighted the Education 2030 agenda and developed advocacy campaigns to implement the Education 2030 agenda in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) sub-region. Teacher leaders from 12 EI affiliates in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated, highlighting that the SDGs cannot be achieved until the governments in the sub-region improve access and quality of public education, strengthen public education systems with adequate funding for education, appoint trained and qualified teachers with good salaries and benefits, improve infrastructure, and make schools child friendly. EI was represented by Shashi Bala Singh and Anand Singh.
Joint national capacity-building workshop on trade union rights and quality education campaigns and negotiations in Cambodia
The need for EI’s Cambodian affiliates to campaign together on urgent and common human and trade union rights issues led to a workshop from 9-11 August in Phnom Penh for the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association and the National Educators’ Association for Development. The workshop also highlighted the SDGs, the Human and Trade Union Rights Policy Paper, and the Global Response to the privatisation and commercialisation in and of education. Rey Dolot represented EI.
John Thompson Fellowship (JTF) Programme Asia orientation meeting in India
The EIAP organised this orientation meeting of the John Thompson fellows of Rajkiya Prathmik Shikshak Sangh (RPSS) Haryana India in Gurgaon, from 22-24 August, as part of the JTF Programme 2015 for leaders of the state affiliates of the All India Primary Teachers’ Federation. During the training, fellows prepared action plans to strengthen RPSS by increasing membership and membership dues, and increasing the participation of women teachers at all levels within the union. EI was represented by Shashi Bala Singh and Anand Singh.
Results-based management matrix and planning meeting for 2017-2019 in Sri Lanka
EI and UEN conducted a results-based management matrix (RBM) training and planning meeting for EI affiliates, including the All Ceylon Union of Teachers, the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union and the All Ceylon Union of English Teachers, in Negombo, from 23-25 August. The RBM approach, accountability, ownership, and inclusiveness were addressed. Pathma Krishnan represented EI.
Regional consultation on education financing and privatisation in Asia-Pacific
From 29-31 August in Bangkok, Thailand, EI participated in a regional consultation on education financing and privatisation in Asia-Pacific. This was organised by the Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education in collaboration with the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Open Society Foundations, and the Right to Education Project. Attendees shared parallel reports submitted by national education coalitions in Nepal, Pakistan, and Philippines to human rights treaty bodies focusing on privatisation and its negative impact on the right to education. EI strongly stated that it will not endorse any document, nor be party to any attempt, which may help the governments to elude their responsibility to provide free quality education for all. EI was represented by Shashi Bala Singh and Anand Singh.
