International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2021: Governments and unions come together to strengthen education
This year’s edition of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession takes place virtually between 19 and 21 October. Hosted by the United States, the Summit brings together Education Ministers and teacher union leaders in OECD countries to strengthen policy dialogue in education and support the teaching profession.
Welcoming the new edition of the Summit, David Edwards, Education International General Secretary, stated: “While the pandemic remains an ever-present threat, education jurisdictions are planning and implementing their recovery. Teachers and school communities have shown enormous resilience, constantly innovating in order to educate and protect students. Many countries have continued to learn from each other. They also understand that positive educational changes and improvements cannot be embedded without partnership between governments and teacher unions. Countries’ commitment to the International Summit on the Teaching Profession as a unique forum for learning, remains undimmed despite the pandemic.”
Learning from the past, looking to the future: Excellence and equity for all
The United States, the original host and founder of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession, hosts this year’s edition focusing on “Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future: Excellence and Equity for All”. Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education opened the Summit together with Education International President, Susan Hopgood, and Andreas Schleicher, OECD’s Director for Education and Skills. Jill Biden - First Lady of the United States, teacher, and member of the National Education Association - also joined the session. Watch their opening remarks below.
Fifteen countries participated in the virtual summit: Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
"Countries’ commitment to the International Summit on the Teaching Profession as a unique forum for learning, remains undimmed despite the pandemic."
During the Summit, delegations discussed how governments, teacher organisations and schools as centres of their communities can collaborate around the future of education and the whole child to build back better and provide an excellent education to all.
The Summit concluded with remarks from:
- David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International
- Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General, OECD
- Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education
Watch the closing session below.
Working together for an effective and equitable educational recovery
Throughout the pandemic, Education International and the OECD have worked closely together to provide guidance to stakeholders on addressing the crisis in education. The Education International - OECD Principles for Effective and Equitable Educational Recovery facilitate the collaboration of education authorities, the teaching profession and their organisations to navigate the crisis effectively and reshape education systems to reach greater levels of educational quality and equity.
