Ei-iE

Jens Kalaene
Jens Kalaene

Equity and inclusion

We defend and promote the principles of equity and equality in education, in education unions and in society. We are fully committed to combating all forms of racism and of bias or discrimination due age, disability, ethnicity or indigeneity, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, language, marital status, migratory status, political activism, religion, socio-economic status, trade union affiliation, among others. We are committed to addressing these forms of discrimination through an intersectional lens, which enables a deeper understanding of the complexities of lived experiences.

I think Education International has a leadership role to play… If we’re going to have a more civil society, a more inclusive society, then we have to model that by including men but women as well, people of different ethnic groups or religious backgrounds. All of us have to be involved and be at the table and have that kind of respect.

Professor Mary Hatwood Futrell, First elected EI President, 1993–2004

Promoting and advancing gender equality has always been an Education International priority. We believe that education can play a key role in empowering women and girls and can contribute to breaking through the cycle of gender discrimination. The Education International Gender Equality Action Plan highlights three main priorities:

  1. Promoting women’s leadership and participation within education unions;
  2. Taking action to increase intersectional gender equality in and through education;
  3. Promoting and securing women’s economic empowerment.

The unequal and gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic risks erasing years of progress on equity and inclusion throughout the world. Together with our member organisations, we mobilise to challenge and help dismantle all structures of inequality in education and beyond. As part of this work, we have called for equity audits to be conducted at all levels of education in order to ensure the pandemic does not define the lives of an entire generation of students.

Our work in this area

  1. News 2 March 2012

    Trade union delegation contributes to debates at UNCSW

    Trade unionists are deeply involved in discussions at the 56th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), being held in New York, USA, from 27 February-9 March. As a member of the trade union delegation, EI has contributed extensively at official panels.

    Trade union delegation contributes to debates at UNCSW
  2. News 1 March 2012

    International Women’s Day: Teachers are on the move for equality

    To mark International Women’s Day, 8th March, Education International is calling upon member organisations to engage in activities highlighting women’s and girls’ right to quality education and to economic empowerment and to emphasise in those activities the intrinsic value of gender equality, fairness and solidarity to society.

    International Women’s Day: Teachers are on the move for equality
  3. News 24 February 2012

    Girls will suffer if rural and indigenous education not funded, say unions

    Four Global Union Federations (GUFs) have called for the continued educational empowerment of women, especially in light of the economic crisis. The GUFs are jointly lobbying the governments that will come together in New York for the 56th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) from...

    Girls will suffer if rural and indigenous education not funded, say unions
  4. Research

    Teaching under China’s market economy: Five case studies

    Dr. Shibao Guo, Dr. Yan Guo, Dr. Gulbahar Beckett, Dr. Qing Li, Dr. Linyuan Guo
    31 January 2012

    China probably runs the world’s largest education system today with the total number of teachers, including higher education, part time and non-formal teachers, employed by the public authorities reaching almost 15 million, which is about 20% of the planet’s teaching force.

    Teaching under China’s market economy: Five case studies
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  5. News 25 January 2012

    New online tool features Holocaust survivors’ video testimonies

    EI has welcomed the launch of IWitness, an online educational resource showcasing Holocaust survivors’ video testimonies. IWitness debuted at the United Nations’ (UN) headquarters in New York, U.S.A., on 23 January.

    New online tool features Holocaust survivors’ video testimonies
  6. News 25 January 2012

    EI welcomes new UNESCO initiative on teaching respect for all

    Concerned about the increasing cases of racism, xenophobia and intolerance in many parts of the world, UNESCO, with the support of the Brazilian and United States (US) governments, has launched a new project to promote learning to live together.

    EI welcomes new UNESCO initiative on teaching respect for all
  7. News 9 January 2012

    Canada: CTF welcomes UN decision to conduct inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women

    The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) Executive Committee has endorsed the decision made by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to conduct an inquiry into the murders and disappearances of Aboriginal women and girls across Canada.

    Canada: CTF welcomes UN decision to conduct inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women
  8. News 4 January 2012

    Teacher unionists use momentum to push for further gender equity in Africa

    The Africa Women in Education Network (AWEN) held its annual review meeting from 19-20 December 2011 in Accra, Ghana. The meeting, involving members of the AWEN Steering Committee and representatives from the partner unions, UEN/Norway and Lärarförbundet/Sweden, was opened by EI Vice President Irene Adanusa, advising to build on the...

    Teacher unionists use momentum to push for further gender equity in Africa
  9. Research

    Schools at the margins

    Laura Figazzolo
    13 December 2011

    The global economic crisis, which started unexpectedly in 2008, struck societies with its consequences on public budgets and education funding, in particular. Effects have been more direct and profound in Central and Eastern Europe, whereas it has taken some time for the Western side of the continent to perceive them.

    Schools at the margins
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  10. News 8 December 2011

    Canada: Enhancing indigenous peoples’ education

    The Advisory Committee on Aboriginal Education of the Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF), one of EI’s national affiliates, has endorsed the Initiative of Ashoka Changemakers, a global online community, aiming at sharing ideas or projects about supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners.

    Canada: Enhancing indigenous peoples’ education
  11. News 5 December 2011

    On the way to education for equality

    The EI Latin America Women’s Network met in Bogota, Colombia, on 2-3 December to discuss and strengthen the defense of public education as a basic human right.

    On the way to education for equality
  12. News 2 December 2011

    Global Unions call for better governance of migration

    Representatives of Global Unions (GUFs), including EI, are meeting in Geneva this week to put pressure on governments attending the 6th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) to enact and implement a better governance system for migration and fair labour migration policies.

    Global Unions call for better governance of migration
  13. News 24 November 2011

    Living free of the fear of violence

    On 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, EI calls upon education unions to raise awareness of the scope of the phenomenon of violence against girls and women and organise prevention measures to eradicate it.

    Living free of the fear of violence
  14. News 14 November 2011

    Uganda: Affiliate supports women’s empowerment within unions

    The Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) has introduced a new policy that guarantees at least 33 per cent of female representation across all levels of union leadership.

    Uganda: Affiliate supports women’s empowerment within unions
  15. News 3 November 2011

    Mali: teacher unionists receive governmental promise to advance gender equity

    Addressing participants to an EI Africa Region’s workshop, the Malian Minister of Education, Literacy and National Languages, Salikou Sanogo, has promised Syndicat National de l’Education et de la Culture (SNEC ) leaders he will help them promote girls’ education. Held from 24 to 26 October in the national capital city,...

    Mali: teacher unionists receive governmental promise to advance gender equity
  16. News 26 October 2011

    Working together for Indigenous Peoples’ rights

    EI’s Regional Office in Latin America in cooperation with the Union of Education in Norway have released a joint publication focused on the situation of Public Education for Indigenous peoples.

    Working together for Indigenous Peoples’ rights
  17. News 27 September 2011

    UNESCO seeks good practice on combating homophobic bullying

    EI welcomes UNESCO’s first-ever international consultation on homophobic bullying and harassment in educational institutions and encourages member organisations to share any input on existing policies, programmes and tools that help prevent and address homophobic bullying and harassment in different regions in the world.

    UNESCO seeks good practice on combating homophobic bullying