Ei-iE

Future of work in education

The future of education depends on strengthening the teaching profession, enhancing its status, and improving conditions to ensure that every student has a qualified teacher. The expertise of teachers must be recognised. Teachers must be the ones leading the development and future of education.

Technology and artificial intelligence are currently changing education as we know it. COVID-19 has accelerated the pace of change, forcing classrooms to move online for extended periods of time. While technology has the potential to support teaching and learning, it also poses major challenges, such as the critical digital divide and increased inequity, the commercialisation of education, issues of data privacy and cyberbullying, to name just a few.

Simply introducing education technology does not lead to enhanced learning. The teaching profession has a critical role to play in evaluating and deciding on the appropriate technology for teaching and learning.

As proven by the COVID-19 crisis, relationships between teachers and students and school communities are critical to student development and cannot be replaced by screens. We advocate for a human and student-centred approach to the use of technology and artificial intelligence in education.

Our work in this area

  1. News 9 September 2019

    UK: increasing starting salaries – a step in the right direction for guaranteeing recruitment and retention of teachers

    Reacting to the government’s announcement of an increase in starting salaries for teachers, education unions in the UK have acknowledged that this measure will make teaching more attractive and help to mitigate the recruitment and retention crisis, but further public investment in education is urgently needed.

    UK: increasing starting salaries – a step in the right direction for guaranteeing recruitment and retention of teachers
  2. Worlds of Education 24 July 2019

    “Turning inclusion into reality: the central role of teachers”, by Anna D’Addio.

    Anna Cristina D'Addio

    Many factors feed into the design of a truly inclusive education system. Some factors shape the way education systems are set up, such as laws and policies or governance and finance mechanisms. Others operate inside the school walls, in the shape of curricula and learning materials, but also teachers, school...

    “Turning inclusion into reality: the central role of teachers”, by Anna D’Addio.
  3. Worlds of Education 27 June 2019

    "Teacher ethics: ethics of presence", by Eirick Prairat.

    Eirick Prairat

    The professionalisation of the teaching profession, initiated at the beginning of the 1990s, was conceived solely in terms of technical skills. There was little talk of ethics at the time. In this text, we would like to show that far from being “an extra soul”, ethics is at the heart...

    "Teacher ethics: ethics of presence", by Eirick Prairat.
  4. News 19 June 2019

    The OECD Teaching and International Survey (TALIS) 2018 data released

    The latest Teaching and international Survey (TALIS) 2018 report released by the OECD illustrates the issues teachers face in their workplace; focusing on working time and training of teachers.

    The OECD Teaching and International Survey (TALIS) 2018 data released
  5. News 14 May 2019

    Ghana: Accra forum strengthens social and policy dialogue in Africa

    Education International’s Social and Policy Dialogue Forum, held in Accra, Ghana, on 8-9 May, served to support stronger social and policy dialogue in Africa, where mechanisms for social and policy dialogue are often either weak or non-existent. Significantly, the participants signed the Accra Declaration, which highlights the need for and...

    Ghana: Accra forum strengthens social and policy dialogue in Africa
  6. Research

    The future of the teaching profession (Second edition)

    John MacBeath
    16 April 2019

    This study contains profound insights into the nature of teacher professionalism. Debates on the policy directions in education in the past decade have been increasingly focusing on learning outcomes and effectiveness indicators in search of the “hidden truth” or the “holy grail” of what makes an effective school. While effectiveness...

    The future of the teaching profession (Second edition)
    1. Download
  7. Worlds of Education 15 March 2019

    “Early Childhood Education – the start of lifelong learning – but build upon play and well-being”, by Lasse Bjerg Jørgensen.

    Lasse Bjerg Jørgensen

    At last Early Childhood Education (ECE) is on the agenda of an International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP). At this year’s Summit, ISTP 2019, the importance of ECE for lifelong learning and well-being is now, for the first time, one of the Summit’s three plenary themes.

    “Early Childhood Education – the start of lifelong learning – but build upon play and well-being”, by Lasse Bjerg Jørgensen.
  8. News 6 March 2019

    Teachers’ professional development and conditions - vital signs for student well-being and progress

    An Education international - commissioned study for the EI Research Institute on teacher professional identities, based on seven localities and five case studies, shows that teachers are concerned about the well-being and progress of students. They also consider professional development and learning central to that mission along with professional standing...

    Teachers’ professional development and conditions - vital signs for student well-being and progress
  9. News 28 February 2019

    Haiti: trade union front for quality public education, social dialogue and a statute for teachers in the private sector

    Despite many obstacles, Education International’s Haitian affiliates are jointly campaigning for quality public education and the establishment of a dialogue with the Minister of Education. They are also supporting a statute for teachers in the private sector.

    Haiti: trade union front for quality public education, social dialogue and a statute for teachers in the private sector
  10. Worlds of Education 13 February 2019

    “A Pending Task: Addressing Inequality in Education”, by Karen Inga Eira and Juan Gabriel Espinola.

    Juan Gabriel Espinola, Karen Inga Eira

    2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention 1989 (No 169), the only international treaty that specifically addresses the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Education International recognizes the critical role that teachers and their organizations in the education system have in ensuring the...

    “A Pending Task: Addressing Inequality in Education”, by Karen Inga Eira and Juan Gabriel Espinola.
  11. News 25 January 2019

    Today’s Priority - The future of Finland’s education policy

    The annual Educa trade fair organised by Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö, a national education union affiliated to Education International, OAJ, will bring together thousands of Finnish teachers and education policymakers.

    Today’s Priority - The future of Finland’s education policy
  12. News 13 December 2018

    Philippines: union leaders united around gender equality and improving campaign capacities

    The annual evaluation and planning meeting of the Philippines’s women’s network bringing together Education International’s affiliates in this country has taken stock of gender and diversity issues and reinforced the education unions’ capacities and advocacy skills.

    Philippines: union leaders united around gender equality and improving campaign capacities
  13. Worlds of Education 25 October 2018

    Union support for refugee teachers in Saxony, by Brhan Al Zoabi

    Bran Al Zoabi

    Among the many people who have fled to Germany since 2015 are many skilled workers who have not only lost their families, friends, history, work, future, property, home and dreams, but also their direction, path and goal. In other words, they have lost everything. Some workers have found other areas...

    Union support for refugee teachers in Saxony, by Brhan Al Zoabi
  14. News 8 October 2018

    Germany: shortcomings in schools in terms of digitisation

    A new Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft’s study on the quality of educational institutions concludes that German schools are not ready for digitisation.

    Germany: shortcomings in schools in terms of digitisation
  15. Worlds of Education 5 October 2018

    “World Teachers’ Day: Between Recognition and Reward”, by Nelly P. Stromquist

    Teacher’s Day (usually in singular) is celebrated in many countries, a testimony to the importance with which teaching is perceived by those who benefited from knowledgeable and caring teachers. Teaching, in fact, has been identified by many as one of the most influential jobs in the world. Different countries have...

    “World Teachers’ Day: Between Recognition and Reward”, by Nelly P. Stromquist