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 1 September 2011

    France: teacher union defends mention of gender theory in textbooks

    UNSA-Education, a French EI affiliate, has denounced a call to censure secondary-level textbooks mentioning gender theory, explaining the relationships between sexuality, gender roles and cultural backgrounds.

    France: teacher union defends mention of gender theory in textbooks
  2. News 21 July 2011

    Education for girls: Much achieved, more to do

    ‘To plan for a day, catch a fish. To plan for a year, plant rice. To plan for a decade, plant a tree. To plan for a lifetime, educate a girl.’

    Education for girls: Much achieved, more to do
  3. News 20 July 2011

    Millions of girls at risk of missing out on primary education

    Millions of girls are being forced out of school because of poverty, the threat of sexual violence and poor-quality schools – despite improved enrolment rates, according to a new report from the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) of which EI is a founding member.

    Millions of girls at risk of missing out on primary education
  4. News 14 July 2011

    Women’s rights: from law to practice

    In one week, hundreds of teacher unionists from all over the world will convene in Cape Town for Education International’s Women’s Caucus, a day before the start of the sixth EI World Congress. One of the main themes will be closing the implementation gap and making women’s rights reality.

    Women’s rights: from law to practice
  5. News 7 July 2011

    St. Lucia Teachers’ Union establishes Women’s Committee

    About three quarters of EI’s member organisations have a committee dealing specifically with women’s rights and gender equality. Now one more organisation can count itself among these. The Status of Women’s Committee of the St. Lucia Teachers’ Union is charged with addressing gender equality among teachers, and with empowering its...

    St. Lucia Teachers’ Union establishes Women’s Committee
  6. News 1 July 2011

    Ghana: Teachers' union launches anti-child labour handbook

    The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) launched a handbook to prevent child labour in Ghana as part of the World Day Against Child Labour initiative. The book was launched on 29 June at the GNAT Hall in Accra, Ghana and featured speaker such as government officials and international union...

    Ghana: Teachers' union launches anti-child labour handbook
  7. News 23 June 2011

    Cutbacks in public services set back social progress and equality

    On 23 June, UN Public Services Day, trade unions around the world are demanding a clear commitment to the right of all people for quality public services that promote gender equality. Across a range of indicators women are shown to be bearing the brunt of the global economic crisis, particularly...

    Cutbacks in public services set back social progress and equality
  8. Research

    Impacts of IMF policies on national education budgets and teachers

    Rick Rowden
    23 June 2011

    This Education International Research Institute report provides a critical review of how current IMF macroeconomic policy conditions and advice impact on the ability of borrowing countries to finance national education budgets, wages for public sector teachers, and how such policies affect the ability of governments to achieve the progressive realization...

    Impacts of IMF policies on national education budgets and teachers
    1. Download
  9. News 22 June 2011

    UN affirms that LGBT rights are human rights

    Education International (EI) and Public Services International (PSI) welcome the first-ever resolution on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC).

    UN affirms that LGBT rights are human rights
  10. News 10 June 2011

    World Day against Child Labour 2011

    In 2011, the World Day against Child Labour focuses on children engaged in hazardous work. This year again, Education International (EI) joins the activities organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) around 12 June.

    World Day against Child Labour 2011
  11. News 9 June 2011

    EI study shows equity matters for teachers and students

    Researchers from Exeter University Dr. Elizabeth Wood and Dr. Martin Levinson presented key findings of the new EI Research Institute’s study Equity Matters at the European Trade Union Committee on Education (ETUCE) Standing Committee for Equality held from 25-26 May in Brussels, Belgium.

    EI study shows equity matters for teachers and students