All teachers and education support personnel have the right to organise and be part of a union that represents and defends their values and interests. However, around the world, education unions are facing serious attacks and operate in increasingly challenging and hostile environments. Revitalising unions, building their power by boosting membership and active participation and maximising impact is the way forward.
Research on the current state of unions in the world, commissioned by the Bureau for Workers’ Activities on the occasion of the International Labour Organisation’s Centenary celebration, shows that trade unions have enormous challenges ahead of them.
Trade union renewal, a global challenge
Education International (EI) condemns the abduction of seven teachers from their school in Northern Mali this 25 October. The seven male teachers from Korientze, a rural community 105 km from the city of Mopti, have been abducted during class by a Jihadist group.
Mali: Seven teachers abducted from their school by Jihadist group
Two members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, the Education International affiliate in the Philippines, were targeted in an armed attack on their school. One suffered multiple gunshot wounds and is currently in hospital, with the union reporting she is being held prisoner by police forces.
Philippines: International outrage at attempted extrajudicial killing of education union members
According to one of Education International’s affiliates in Iraq, the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union, the Turkish attack in Northeastern Syria has already caused immense loss, with 18 teachers and 22 students killed, 810 schools damaged, 22 schools destroyed, and 86,000 students unable to attend classes. 5,000 refugees are reported to have...
Syria: Education union reports terrible toll of Turkish military aggression in Northeastern Syria
In the era of fake news, media literacy is essential for democracies the world over. Educators play a crucial role in helping their students become responsible and discerning citizens who can navigate the increasingly complex media landscape and make informed decisions.
Global Media and Information Literacy Week: education nurtures informed, engaged and empowered citizens
Education unions have expressed their support for the legitimate demands of hundreds of thousands of citizens calling for radical change in a political system accused of corruption, confessionalism and clientelism, and an end to the endless economic crisis plaguing Lebanon.
Lebanon: educators join nationwide protests calling for political and economic change
The online magazine ‘Education Journal’ recently published in its edition 385 a report of Education International’s eighth World Congress in Bangkok by EI Senior Consultant, John Bangs. Education Journal has agreed to its publication for Worlds of Education. It has been slightly edited for EI’s global audience.
“Education International. Eighth World Congress”, by John Bangs.
Education International calls on the government of Chile to immediately cease all aggression, suspend the state of emergency in all cities, and open avenues of dialogue with citizens in order to ensure conflict resolution.
Chile: Education International condemns political and military repression of anti-austerity protests
While Haiti’s political, economic and social situation has been deteriorating for months, recent weeks have been truly terrible, to the point that schools are now closed - a dramatic development given that without education, there can be no national development.
Haiti: reopening schools despite the dire situation is essential
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) devoted the most recent edition of its magazine, “Perspectives” to education and democracy. It covers the challenges to democracy in Canada, North America and the world. It also reports on education initiatives that have been developed in Canada to support and re-enforce democratic values and...
“Education – Changing the World”, by David Edwards
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).
Today France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers received the Febe Velasquez Trade Union Rights Award for her brave and outstanding work in defence of human and trade union rights in the Philippines. The prize is awarded by Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging – the federation of Dutch trade unions.
Filipino teacher and trade union activist France Castro wins Febe Velasquez Trade Union Rights Award in the Netherlands
I have been working in the education sector for five years. It is not a long time but it is not a short time either. I have spent a lot of good time teaching students, cooperating with my colleagues and participating in trade union activities - the activities of The...
#youngteachers “Trade unions at your side!”, by Michal Horník (ČMOS-PS, Czech Republic).
In preparation for next year’s conference of the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union (KTU), an extended meeting of the KTU Executive Committee was convened, underlining the issues of democracy, gender equality and action against climate change.
Iraq: education union promotes internal democracy and gender equity and fights climate change
If you are passing through Glasnevin Cemetery on the outskirts of Dublin City Centre, you may come across the noticeable yet simple gravestone of James Larkin. Engraved on it is ‘James Larkin 1876-1947, The Labour Leader’. Larkin’s Gravestone may be simple but the legacy he left behind is much more...
#youngteachers “I owe my union activism to my students”, by Anthony Dowling (TUI, Ireland).
The United Nations established the International Day of Democracy on the 15th of September in 2007 to promote democracy. In 2019, it is clear that democracy and all the things that go with it like human rights and rule of law need to be defended as well as promoted. Education...
“Education on the International Day of Democracy”, by David Edwards.
While they welcomed the news that state sector primary education was to become completely free at the point of use when the government announced its decision to do away with school fees, teachers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have reiterated their concerns about teachers’ salaries and the need...
DRC: EI and its affiliates campaign for free public education
On Thursday 5 September in Bogotá, Colombia, member organisations of Education International Latin America (EILA) opened a regional meeting to share experiences and discuss rights violations in the education sector in Latin American countries. The meeting aims to establish a network for monitoring and reporting human and labour rights violations...
Latin America Discusses Rights Violations in the Education Sector