Building union power depends on young people. When joining, young and early-stage teachers, researchers and education support personnel may struggle to find a place within their union. We must make sure that they are included and have a voice at all levels of education trade unions.
We work with our member organisations to ensure trade unions meet the needs and expectations of young education workers and that union structures, policies and activities are fully open to them.
Education unions in Africa reflect a wide diversity of cultures, languages, and educational contexts where the voices of young educators are vital for shaping the future of education. Despite this richness, young educators continue to face significant challenges in participating in union activities and assuming leadership roles, limiting the capacity...
Empowering the next generation: Young educators in Africa
African education union leaders called for peace, increased investment in quality education and the elevation of the teaching profession throughout the continent. They also acknowledged the need for greater involvement of young educators in their unions. This was during the last Education International Africa Regional Committee (EIARC).
African education leaders call for enhanced investment in education and Africa's future
In the face of evolving educational landscapes and the ever-present need for robust representation, education unionists are spearheading a dynamic movement to consolidate their influence and expand their membership. This initiative, particularly focused on engaging young educators and women, was the centerpiece of a pivotal breakout session titled “Organizing for...
Education unionists mobilize for greater influence and membership growth
Education International has developed a "Toolkit to Build Union Strength – For more Effective Education Unions”. This toolkit enables each Education International member organisation to engage in a process of self-assessment, proposing that they experiment with new activities to strengthen their organisations.
Development cooperation (DC) partners of the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) – Education International’s European Region – met for a DC Café online and discussed activities related to social and policy dialogue, gender equity and union renewal.
European unions’ solidarity brings progress on social and policy dialogue, gender equity and union renewal
The development cooperation (DC) Café held on 27 January presented activities undertaken and planned by Education International’s Africa Region (EIRAF) with member organisations in the region and international DC partners. Two specific projects were highlighted: the Global Response to the Privatisation and Commercialisation in and of Education campaign and the...
Union development cooperation put to good use to fight privatisation of education and promote youth involvement in Africa
Through the John Thompson Fellowship (JTF) Programme , education unionists are given the opportunity to gain direct and valuable information, exchange experiences, ideas, and best practices and foster solidarity among the organisations. Education International, DC partners and education unions have taken stock of successful results in North Asia and launched...
The John Thompson Fellowship Programme, from Asia to Africa
During a Development Cooperation (DC) Café on Asia-Pacific held on 12 January, DC partners learnt about the accomplishments in the region in partnership with member organisations. Anand Singh, Director of the Education International Asia-Pacific (EIAP) regional office, reported on priorities and challenges faced by the region as well as activities...
Education unionists take stock of development cooperation in Asia-Pacific
Following the recent launch of the research “Trade union transformation in the digital economy: the case of the Federation of Mongolian Education and Science Unions (FMESU)”, the Mongolian education union started embarking in activities to implement the three-year project “Trade union transformation and the digital economy”.
Mongolia: Ongoing efforts towards trade union transformation and renewal
A webinar organised by Education International’s regional office for Africa (EIRAF) was the opportunity for an enriching and useful exchange of experiences of trade union renewal between member organisations in Cameroon, Mali, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.
The winds of trade union change blow across Africa
Education International has joined other global union federations (GUFs) in a project aiming to promote union renewal and train young unionists.
Amplifying young voices within trade unions in the COVID-19 new normal
With the support of the Syndicat national des enseignements de second degré-Fédération syndicale unitaire (SNES-FSU) in France, the Pedagógusok Szakszervezete-Syndicat des Enseignants de Hongrie (PSZ-SEH) has organised trade union training for its young members.
Hungary: quality trade union renewal with international solidarity
The 6th Ordinary Congress of the Syndicat des enseignants libres du Sénégal (SELS) held on 18 September in Dakar endorsed the creation of a National Youth Committee (NYC) which should contribute “to the massification of the union” and work “for the emergence of a young leadership within the structure”.
Senegal: trade union renewal on the agenda of the SELS national congress
Inspiring young educators to improve and develop trade union work in Fiji was the aim of a dedicated training event organised by the Council of Pacific Education (COPE) in October 2020.
Fiji: Young activists ready to take up the union torch
The Online Union Academy [Académie Syndicale en Ligne, ASL] project set up by the Congo National Federation of Teachers and Social Educators (FENECO/UNTC) is part of the capacity-building activities of unions working in the education sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Primary, Secondary and Technical Education; Higher and University...
An online union academy made in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Education International’s Asia-Pacific office has launched new research “Union Renewal in the Education Sector: Prospects for the Asia-Pacific report”. This has provided an opportunity to reflect on the need for education unions to overcome challenges, embrace renewal, and seize opportunities offered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trade union renewal in Asia-Pacific to advance educators’ conditions and representation
A strike in secondary schools in Ireland has seen hundreds of establishments closed as teachers all over the country demand an end to pay discrimination.
Ireland: Teachers strike for equal pay
Teaching is just like life: always full of surprises. Too often, however, these surprises give rise to frustration, disappointment and demotivation. But why, you might ask? It’s simple: education is one of society’s essential foundations and we all know that we must invest in it through well thought out and...
#youngteachers “To teach, is to commit”, by Khalid El Mahroug (SLFP, Belgium).