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. Worlds of Education 12 June 2020

    “Preparing for a post-COVID-19 world and working to prevent student dropout: good union practices in the fight against child labour”, by Samuel Grumiau and Pedi Anawi.

    Pedi Anawi, Samuel Grumiau

    According to the ILO, there are over 150 million child labourers worldwide. Conscious of this challenge and keen to promote the right to a quality education for all, EI members in thirteen countries have initiated programmes to eradicate child labour with the support of EI and its partners. While there...

    “Preparing for a post-COVID-19 world and working to prevent student dropout: good union practices in the fight against child labour”, by Samuel Grumiau and Pedi Anawi.
  2. Worlds of Education 12 June 2020

    “Getting children back to school after the COVID-19 closures: how EI's child labour projects empowered teachers and their unions”, by Nora Wintour.

    Nora Wintour

    In the research study, conducted in 2018 and 2019 “EI/AOb Child Labour Projects: Transnational best practices and union impacts”, I examined how professional training programmes have enhanced teachers capacity to attract and retain children in school through participatory education techniques and how as a result of the child labour projects,...

    “Getting children back to school after the COVID-19 closures: how EI's child labour projects empowered teachers and their unions”, by Nora Wintour.
  3. Worlds of Education 12 June 2020

    Interview | Susan Hopgood: “In the fight against child labour the key to progress is to involve unions”.

    Susan Hopgood

    On the World Day Against Child Labour, Education International President Susan Hopgood gives insights into the work of education unions to eradicate child labour, the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on vulnerable children, the lessons we have learned from previous crises and the way forward.

    Interview | Susan Hopgood: “In the fight against child labour the key to progress is to involve unions”.
  4. News 12 June 2020

    Educators against child labour: best practices to help eradicate child labour post Covid-19

    On the World Day Against Child Labour, Education International launches a report documenting best practices identified in its projects against child labour. With Covid-19 set to increase the number of child labourers, these lessons are essential to future efforts to ensure all children are in school, not in work.

    Educators against child labour: best practices to help eradicate child labour post Covid-19
  5. Worlds of Education 4 June 2020

    “Enhancing the status of female dominated occupations”, by Pauline Schnegg.

    Pauline Schnegg

    The Greek god Kairos represents an opportunity to be seized in the guise of a young man who is naked, but sports a tuft of hair on his head. When he comes within our reach, one of three things can happen: we do not see him; we see him but...

    “Enhancing the status of female dominated occupations”, by Pauline Schnegg.
  6. News 2 June 2020

    Cameroon: the resumption of face-to-face classes without proper preliminary planning endangers teachers and students alike

    Organised teachers in Cameroon have warned the government that a resumption of classes on 1 June carried out without sufficient preliminary planning would put the educational community in danger. They have especially insisted on reduced class sizes and the provision of masks and hand sanitizer.

    Cameroon: the resumption of face-to-face classes without proper preliminary planning endangers teachers and students alike
  7. News 28 May 2020

    Kenya: New report urges government to plan well and save lives

    In Kenya, education unions have joined with civil society organisations in presenting public authorities with recommendations and steps to be taken to guarantee a safe reopening of schools and education institutions.

    Kenya: New report urges government to plan well and save lives
  8. News 17 May 2020

    Council of Global Unions Statement | LGBTI rights are a union issue

    Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT). The Council of Global Unions, a group of independent trade union organizations that represent over 200 million workers around the world, reaffirm our commitment to building respect and dignity for all workers. We believe every worker is entitled to...

    Council of Global Unions Statement | LGBTI rights are a union issue
  9. News 8 May 2020

    VE Day, a time for celebration and opportunity – 75 years later

    Today, 8 May, is the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Victory Europe (VE) Day is an important anniversary, but also a moment to reflect on the decades that followed.

    VE Day, a time for celebration and opportunity – 75 years later
  10. News 5 May 2020

    Latin America: Women Education Workers Unite in the Face of Pandemic

    Representatives from the gender, equity and equality units of EI member unions across Latin America were invited by the regional office to participate in a virtual meeting last Wednesday to reflect on the situation of women in general, and women educators in particular, in the time of COVID-19.

    Latin America: Women Education Workers Unite in the Face of Pandemic
  11. News 4 May 2020

    EI Asia-Pacific Regional Committee adopts statement on COVID-19

    The statement adopted by the Asia-Pacific Regional Committee cites the divergent approaches of governments to the impact of COVID-19 on health, workers, and the economy. It also stresses the lack of consultation of education unions, with rare exceptions, on questions related to the pandemic in the region.

    EI Asia-Pacific Regional Committee adopts statement on COVID-19
  12. News 4 May 2020

    EI African Regional Committee adopts statement of COVID-19 impact and re-opening of schools

    The Education International Africa Regional Committee, in a virtual meeting held on 20 April 2020, adopted a statement that focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the region and urged governments to consult teachers and education support personnel (ESP) through their representative organisations to ensure that...

    EI African Regional Committee adopts statement of COVID-19 impact and re-opening of schools
  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. Worlds of Education 29 April 2020

    “Transforming economies and the financing of public education post-COVID”, by David Archer.

    David Archer

    Public health and public education systems that have been underfunded for a generation are being overwhelmed by COVID-19. We are just now beginning to see the scale of the impact this will have on low income countries and on girls and women in particular. Much of the burden of caring...

    “Transforming economies and the financing of public education post-COVID”, by David Archer.
  15. News 29 April 2020

    Jordan: Non-payment of teacher salaries in the private sector affecting mainly women

    Despite continuing their work online, teachers in private schools in Jordan are not being paid their full salaries. Most of the teachers affected are women. Education International urges the Jordanian government to guarantee the fundamental rights of teachers and education workers and update national legislation to prohibit gender discrimination at...

    Jordan: Non-payment of teacher salaries in the private sector affecting mainly women
  16. Worlds of Education 1 April 2020

    “Joined up Action Needed: Gender and Schooling in the Time of COVID 19”, by Elaine Unterhalter.

    Elaine Unterhalter

    More than 1.5 billion children worldwide are out of school due to COVID 19 and we don't know for how long. As yet there is no gender disaggregation of these figures. This shock comes at a time when, slowly, the number of children enrolling and completing school was beginning to...

    “Joined up Action Needed: Gender and Schooling in the Time of COVID 19”, by Elaine Unterhalter.
  17. News 16 March 2020

    States must provide for teaching indigenous and minority children in their own language

    Education International warmly welcomes the declaration by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues that children of linguistic minorities must be taught in their own language where possible. This would help to achieve inclusive and quality education, and respect the human rights of all children.

    States must provide for teaching indigenous and minority children in their own language