Ei-iE

The Namibian National Teacher Union (NANTU) teamed up with the Namibian Ministry of Education to host Edu-Sector Health Day in the Caprivi region.

As the academic year begins across much of Latin America, teacher unions continue their campaigns to overcome challenges to quality education. In Argentina, Colombia and Brazil, unions tackle a range of issues from educational funding to teacher rights.

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) knows firsthand the challenges of talking HIV/AIDS in a country believed to have the highest incidence of AIDS worldwide.

The Dominica Association of Teachers launched their Policy on HIV/AIDS for the Teaching Profession in January 2009. The Workplace Policy developed from a process of consultation between the union executive, teachers and People Living with HIV and AIDS.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the Teachers & Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) have developed both a ‘HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy’ and ‘Policy Recommendations for Achieving Education For All’.

UNESCO’s recent publication ‘Heroes and villains’ assesses the interaction between the education sector and the AIDS crisis, and highlights the important contribution of teacher unions and the valuable work of the EI EFAIDS Programme in guiding union strategies on AIDS related issues.

Teopista Birungi Mayanja, Secretary General of the Uganda National Teachers Union speaks about progress on achieving quality education and responding to HIV and AIDS under the EFAIDS Programme.

Teachers and trade unionists were well-represented among the 35,000 demonstrators who marched through the streets of London on 28 March to demand that leaders of the G20 make the needs of working people and the poor top priority when they meet this week to draft a global economic recovery plan.

At its recent meeting the EI Executive Board adopted a report on the first EI Task Force on Early Childhood Education (ECE) meeting held in Malta. The report was presented by the chairperson of the Task Force, Haldis Holst of UEN/Norway.

Investment in people must be a key factor in stimulus plans to recover from the financial and economic crisis. This was one of the messages from EI and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the Council of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), comprising ambassadors from the...

Members of EI's Executive Board discussed a wide range of issues, in particular the emerging impact of the global economic crisis on public education around the world. Expressing concern that it will be a deep and lengthy crisis, the Board reaffirmed the importance of significant investment in quality public services...

The Executive Board of Education International unanimously adopted a declaration calling on the international community, governments, and all parties to conflicts to recognise and respect the right of all children and adults to a safe education in a peaceful environment, and to respect education institutions as safe sanctuaries.

The first EI workshop on negotiations and organising was held in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 12 -13 March 2009, thus paving the way for a new initiative to support its members in the South East European region.

Education International (EI) reaffirms that correct and consistent use of condoms is an integral aspect of an effective HIV prevention strategy.

Developing strategies to minimise the impact of the global economic crisis on teachers, teacher unions and the education sector worldwide will be one of the top-priority items on the agenda as leaders of Education International meet from 24-26 March in Brussels.

The Education International Africa Regional Committee (EIARC) held its annual meeting in Lomé, Togo, from 16th-18th March. The representatives of the six zones of the African Region reviewed activities of the last year.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has a long track record of civil society participation in its meetings. The advocacy work of the civil society, including trade unions, played an important role again this year in giving coherence to the work of the commission.

On 28 March, thousands will march through London as part of a global campaign to challenge the G20, ahead of their 2 April summit on the global financial crisis. Both EI and the International Trade Union Confederation strong urge their member organisations, and in particular those in the G20 countries,...