Ei-iE

Leading the profession

Teachers and education support personnel know what works in education. They must be recognised and empowered to deliver on the promise of quality education for all.

At the classroom level, academic freedom and professional autonomy are prerequisites for quality teaching and learning. As professionals, teachers must be afforded the space and trust to make the best possible decisions for their students.

Beyond the classroom, education policy must be informed by the vast experience and insights only education professionals can provide. We advocate for the involvement of teachers, education support personnel and their representative organisations in all decision-making in education and work towards the expansion of sectoral policy dialogue at all levels and in all countries.

Our work in this area

  1. Worlds of Education 21 October 2020

    “Africa: Collaboration between Unions and Governments for a Better Future in Education”, by Cherine Sabry.

    Cherine Sabry

    Unions and governments have been in conflict since the dawn of time. The mere existence of unions as a force to defend workers’ rights where governments fail to do so in and of itself leads to this conflictual relationship. In Africa, unions have rarely been consulted during the COVID-19 crisis...

    “Africa: Collaboration between Unions and Governments for a Better Future in Education”, by Cherine Sabry.
  2. Worlds of Education 29 September 2020

    “Education at a Glance 2020: what can we learn for education systems’ recovery post-COVID19?”, by John Bangs.

    John Bangs

    It is an indicator of the depth of the crisis created by Covid that OECD’s Secretary General, Angel Gurria should take on the responsibility for launching this year’s edition of Education at a Glance. While the OECD describes the EAG as a flagship publication and it’s full of interesting comparative...

    “Education at a Glance 2020: what can we learn for education systems’ recovery post-COVID19?”, by John Bangs.
  4. Publications

    Forward to School: Guidance, Considerations and Resources for and from Education Unions to Inform Decision-Making in Times of Covid-19

    30 July 2020

    Forward to School provides a wealth of resources to inform the response of education unions in this next stage of the Covid-19 education crisis. It features information, research and, most importantly, examples of union actions in more than 50 countries across all regions.

    Forward to School: Guidance, Considerations and Resources for and from Education Unions to Inform Decision-Making in Times of Covid-19
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  5. News 23 July 2020

    Protecting the human rights of teachers and students and education in the digital age

    In an interview with EI, Christina Colclough, future of work expert, discussed teacher adaptation to digitalisation, life-long learning, the digital divide, the relationship between virtual and physical learning, data, and related issues. She stressed that the use and abuse of data was a danger to worker and human rights.

    Protecting the human rights of teachers and students and education in the digital age
  6. Research

    Teacher professional development and curriculum Enhancing teacher professionalism in Africa

    Yusuf Sayed & Eva Bulgrin
    16 June 2020

    This report is a comparative study on teacher professional development in relation to curriculum. The review seeks to understand the relationship between teacher professionalism and curriculum in Africa by investigating 10 selected countries covering primary and lower secondary schooling.

    Teacher professional development and curriculum Enhancing teacher professionalism in Africa
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  7. News 4 June 2020

    International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2020: Teachers recognised as the heroes of the Covid-19 crisis in education

    The 10th edition of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) took place on 2 June 2020, in a webinar format. Co-hosted by Education International and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the ISTP brought together education ministers and education unions for a discussion on the impact...

    International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2020: Teachers recognised as the heroes of the Covid-19 crisis in education
  8. Worlds of Education 2 June 2020

    "10 years of ISTP – what governments and unions can achieve together", by Andreas Schleicher and David Edwards

    David Edwards, Andreas Schleicher

    Ten years ago, Education International and the OECD began co-hosting with various countries an altogether unique, (somewhat unlikely) but critically necessary convening of ministers of education and heads of teachers’ unions. The purpose was to support an informed and honest policy dialogue between and among elected representatives of the teaching...

    "10 years of ISTP – what governments and unions can achieve together", by Andreas Schleicher and David Edwards
  10. News 19 May 2020

    South Africa: The safety of educators and students is of serious concern in the reopening of schools and colleges

    The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has expressed grave concern at government plans to reopen schools and education institutions on 1 June. Urging the government to prioritise safety, the union has compiled preconditions and non-negotiable items to be met before any educators resume on-site teaching.

    South Africa: The safety of educators and students is of serious concern in the reopening of schools and colleges
  12. News 6 May 2020

    Burkina Faso: Health and safety issues to be addressed before schools reopen

    Teacher unions in Burkina Faso are urging public authorities to ensure that adequate safety measures are in place for students and educators before the reopening of schools scheduled for 11 May. The unions recognise that remote teaching and learning is not happening uniformly throughout the country and cannot replace education...

    Burkina Faso: Health and safety issues to be addressed before schools reopen
  13. News 30 April 2020

    Education International Guidance on Reopening Schools and Education Institutions

    As a growing number of countries are considering easing restrictions and gradually resuming onsite education, Education International stresses a set of five dimensions that should be considered by governments, in dialogue with educators and their unions, when planning this next phase of the response to the COVID-19 crisis in education.

    Education International Guidance on Reopening Schools and Education Institutions
  14. Publications

    EI Guidance to Reopening Schools and Education Institutions

    30 April 2020

    With schools and education institutions closed in a majority of countries, there are critical issues for governments to take into consideration, as countries gradually begin to re-open early childhood institutions, schools and higher education institutions. It is imperative that governments communicate transparently and continuously about the plans for reopening onsite...

    EI Guidance to Reopening Schools and Education Institutions
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  17. Worlds of Education 25 March 2020

    “Handling the COVID-19 crisis in education: What can TALIS 2018 tell us?”, by John Bangs.

    John Bangs

    The Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2018 was released on the 23rd March. For the first time the OECD’s Education and Skills Director Andreas Schleicher presented the report remotely because of the Covid 19 crisis. The OECD had rightly taken the tough decision to release its report now before...

    “Handling the COVID-19 crisis in education: What can TALIS 2018 tell us?”, by John Bangs.
  18. Worlds of Education 23 March 2020

    “The need for strategy and teacher activism in transnational governance”, by Tore Bernt Sorensen.

    Tore Bernt Sorensen

    Today, the OECD launches “Teachers and School Leaders as Valued Professionals” as the second volume of the TALIS 2018 Results. Being the largest international research programme focused on teachers and school leaders, TALIS is a prime example of how transnational education governance offers opportunities as well as challenges for educators...

    “The need for strategy and teacher activism in transnational governance”, by Tore Bernt Sorensen.