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After learning about the presence of the “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) political party at Germany's largest education fair, didacta, the two largest educational unions in Germany, the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (Education and Science Union-GEW) and the Verband Bildung und Erziehung (Association for Education and Training-(VBE), expressed their strong disapproval to the didacta Association. They highlighted the need to defend democracy against right-wing populism and extremism in education.

The didacta is the leading trade fair event for the entire education sector in Germany. From early childhood development to vocational training and lifelong learning, this educational platform gathers education stakeholders including trade unions, civil society organizations and political parties and brings together the full spectrum of modern educational and learning opportunities.

German unions: Education for democracy, not with people questioning democratic values

The President of GEW Baden-Württemberg branch, Monika Stein, and GEW Federal President and EI Vice-President for Europe, Maike Finnern, together with Gerhard Brand, President of VBE Baden-Württemberg branch and VBE Federal President, officially lodged a complaint with didacta.

For the union leaders, “given recent history, we consider the step of providing this party with a platform at Europe's leading education fair to be highly inappropriate. The federal AfD and the AfD state branch in Baden-Württemberg are considered as highly suspect of right-wing extremism. As a union and as an educational association having the well-being of society in mind and standing for a forward-looking education policy, we categorically reject any form of cooperation.”

The main theme of didacta being “Education for Democracy”, VBE and GEW also question how it is consistent with granting “a booth where people could stand who play down National Socialism and question democratic fundamental values.”

Since the response from the didacta Association did not sufficiently clarify their open questions, the unions have brought the issue before Messe Stuttgart as the organizer.

EI’s continuous stand against the far-right push and authoritarianism

This incident comes shortly after Education International, educators and union leaders from over 20 countries – including from Germany, Israel and Poland – recently gathered in Krakow on January 27, 2025, Holocaust Remembrance Day, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

They underscored the critical role of education in combating antisemitism, racism, and the resurgence of far-right ideologies.

Through many World Congress resolutions adopted and diverse activities conducted since its inception, EI has been showing a clear commitment to protecting democracy and fighting far-right movements and authoritarianism worldwide. It also relentlessly highlights contributions that teachers, schools, universities and representative organizations can make to solidify and progress democratic life.

The resolution “Defending democracy against right-wing populism and extremism in education” adopted at the 10th EI World Congress in 2024 in particular reaffirms “EI’s commitment to supporting education unions to respond to right-wing populism and extremism, the enforcement of anti-discrimination education laws, and the promotion of diverse, inclusive and supportive education systems.”

The document further asserts that “the global growth of the extreme far-right is a grave threat to democracy and a particular threat to trade unions”.

On its 25th anniversary, EI also released “On Education & Democracy: 25 Lessons from the Teaching Profession”, authored by former EI President Susan Hopgood and EI General Secretary emeritus Fred van Leeuwen. These lessons serve as a set of recommendations to every classroom teacher working at all levels in our education systems and in their education unions and are an invitation to take a stand in favor of democracy everywhere.