Ei-iE

The 10th World Congress of Education International (EI), meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 29 July to 2 August 2024 , recognises that:

1. The world is currently experiencing a rise in armed conflict, with some states choosing to ignore international laws that protect education institutions, education, and civilians especially children. Such wars not only negatively impact education due to loss of school time, but school infrastructure is being targeted which then makes its probable that education is being targeted to be destroyed in these wars as a mechanism to annihilate a nation;
2. Education is the key to fostering sustainable peace and democracy;
3. Children from countries impacted by war are less likely to complete primary schooling which then fuels the cycle of poverty, inequality and disease perpetuating the inherited poverty of future generations of those nations.

This Congress call on member organisations to:

4. Find methods to utilise education as a mitigating strategy on the psycho-social impact of wars;
5. Build critical thinking in learners to spur individuals and societies to challenge oppression, tyranny, and inequality;
6. Condemn war and those countries complicit in war to those in authority and their governments.

Mandates the Executive Board to:

7. Urge member organisations to put pressure on their governments to adopt and endorse the international guidelines for protecting schools and universities during armed conflict;
8. Create a space for a dialogue around democracy and transformation among EI member organisations and social partners;
9. Reaffirm that schools and hospitals should remain safe havens.