Ei-iE

Future of work in education

The future of education depends on strengthening the teaching profession, enhancing its status, and improving conditions to ensure that every student has a qualified teacher. The expertise of teachers must be recognised. Teachers must be the ones leading the development and future of education.

Technology and artificial intelligence are currently changing education as we know it. COVID-19 has accelerated the pace of change, forcing classrooms to move online for extended periods of time. While technology has the potential to support teaching and learning, it also poses major challenges, such as the critical digital divide and increased inequity, the commercialisation of education, issues of data privacy and cyberbullying, to name just a few.

Simply introducing education technology does not lead to enhanced learning. The teaching profession has a critical role to play in evaluating and deciding on the appropriate technology for teaching and learning.

As proven by the COVID-19 crisis, relationships between teachers and students and school communities are critical to student development and cannot be replaced by screens. We advocate for a human and student-centred approach to the use of technology and artificial intelligence in education.

Our work in this area

  1. Worlds of Education 12 February 2025

    Nordic academic freedom under threat

    Jon W. Iddeng

    All democratic societies rely on facts and scientific evidence for societal decision-making. Academic freedom ensures that researchers and educators at universities can provide this evidence. These institutions have a special responsibility to meet society's need for basic, curiosity-driven research, to maintain a broad knowledge readiness, and to serve as a...

    Nordic academic freedom under threat
  2. Worlds of Education 7 February 2025

    Academic freedom at risk: the view from North America

    David Robinson

    To fulfil their mission of preserving, sharing, and advancing knowledge, higher education institutions must ensure that academic staff enjoy academic freedom. Academic freedom isn’t a special perk or privilege. Rather, it’s a necessary condition for the job. It is a professional and contractual right ensuring that in their teaching, research,...

    Academic freedom at risk: the view from North America
  3. Worlds of Education 24 January 2025

    The best way to celebrate education? Mobilize to defend it, to strengthen, and to fund it

    David Edwards

    Education is a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility. It relies on the millions of dedicated teachers and support personnel who make it happen in a place called school across the world every day. When this committed education workforce is undermined, the right to education is at...

    The best way to celebrate education? Mobilize to defend it, to strengthen, and to fund it
  4. Worlds of Education 23 January 2025

    Addressing the teacher shortage crisis: A Global Imperative

    Dr. Ben Arnold, Dr. Mark Rahimi

    The Global Status of Teachers 2024 (GST) report highlights a stark reality: teacher shortages constitute a crisis with profound implications for education systems in many countries. Drawing on insights from 204 teacher unions across 121 countries, the report provides an overview of the current challenges and opportunities facing the profession.

    Addressing the teacher shortage crisis: A Global Imperative
  5. Research

    The Global Status of Teachers 2024

    Dr. Ben Arnold, Dr. Mark Rahimi
    23 January 2025

    The Global Status of Teachers report provides a global and regional analysis of the status and conditions of the teaching profession by representing the views of teacher unions worldwide.

    The Global Status of Teachers 2024
    1. Research
  6. News 7 November 2024

    Brazil: Education leaders from around the world call for stronger public education systems

    Teachers, union leaders, and legislators from eleven countries came together in Fortaleza, Brazil, for the Global Education Seminar, a two-day event held to coincide with the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting. The event served as a platform to discuss strategies to strengthen public education amid a complex global landscape.

    Brazil: Education leaders from around the world call for stronger public education systems
  7. News 7 October 2024

    Peru: Latin America commemorates World Teachers’ Day

    On Friday 3 October, Education International Latin America (EILA) commemorated World Teachers’ Day (WTD) with the participation of representatives from Peru, Costa Rica, Argentina, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador and Paraguay.

    Peru: Latin America commemorates World Teachers’ Day
  8. News 4 October 2024

    The future rests with our teachers. Stand with us!

    Mugwena Maluleke, President of Education International, address for World Teachers’ Day 2024

    I want to acknowledge the incredible work of Education International's member organizations worldwide, who are marking this day with their own celebrations and actions, standing united in our call to value, respect, and invest in teachers. From rural to urban schools, across both the Global South and North, they amplify...

    The future rests with our teachers. Stand with us!
  9. News 2 October 2024

    On World Teachers' Day, educators demand urgent action to address the global teacher shortage

    Press Release

    [Brussels, 3 October, 2024] – As school communities everywhere celebrate World Teachers’ Day, educators across the world are calling for immediate action to address the global teacher shortage which threatens the right to education for millions of children in every continent. Underpaid, overworked, and undervalued, teachers are being driven out...

    On World Teachers' Day, educators demand urgent action to address the global teacher shortage
  10. Take action! 20 September 2024

    World Teachers’ Day: Valuing teacher voices

    Communications toolkit

    This World Teachers’ Day, join the global mobilisation calling on governments everywhere to value the voice of teachers, invest in the profession, and in quality public education.

    World Teachers’ Day: Valuing teacher voices
  11. News 27 July 2024

    Advancing educators' health and well-being: a global effort

    The well-being of education professionals is crucial for quality education, yet it faces significant challenges globally. Recognising the interdependence of education and health, key organisations are partnering with Education International (EI) to find solutions to advance the well-being of educators worldwide.

    Advancing educators' health and well-being: a global effort
  12. News 13 May 2024

    Argentina: Trade unions stand together against austerity in national strike

    In a powerful show of solidarity and collective strength, Argentina witnessed a massive national strike on May 9th. Called by the Confederación General del Trabajo (General Confederation of Labor – CGT) and supported by the two Argentinian Workers' Confederations (CTA), the strike reflected workers’ resistance to the austerity measures imposed...

    Argentina: Trade unions stand together against austerity in national strike
  13. Worlds of Education 26 April 2024

    From recommendations to action: Joining forces to end the global teacher shortage

    Johanna Jaara Åstrand

    The shortened version of the following remarks were delivered by Johanna Jaara Åstrand, Education International Vice-president for Europe and President of the Swedish Teachers’ Union, at the European Union Global Gateway High-level Education Event on April 11, 2024. The event marked the regional launch of the recommendations put forward by...

    From recommendations to action: Joining forces to end the global teacher shortage
  14. News 22 April 2024

    ISTP 2024: Empowering teachers to shape equitable futures

    The 14th International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) is taking place in Singapore, from April 22-24, bringing together education ministers and leaders from education unions across 19 countries.

    ISTP 2024: Empowering teachers to shape equitable futures
  15. Worlds of Education 21 April 2024

    Bringing governments and education unions together

    David Edwards

    For the well-being of students, our communities and our countries, governments must increase investment in public education systems, including quality teacher training and professional development, guarantee labor rights and good working conditions, involve teacher unions in policymaking and trust and respect teachers and their professional expertise.

    Bringing governments and education unions together
  16. Publications

    International Summit of the Teaching Profession 2024: Reimagining Education, Realising Potential

    A Briefing by Education International
    21 April 2024

    From 22 to 24 April 2024, the 14th edition of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession brings together governments and education unions from 19 countries to explore the theme “Reimagining Education, Realising Potential”

    International Summit of the Teaching Profession 2024: Reimagining Education, Realising Potential
    1. Download
    2. A Briefing by Education International
  17. Publications

    Activating the Recommendations of the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession

    A Guide for Education Unions
    3 April 2024

    The High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession was convened by the United Nations Secretary-General in response to the global teacher shortage. The Panel brought together academics, ministers, former presidents, teachers and students and their unions.

    Activating the Recommendations of the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession
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