Ei-iE

covid19

  1. Trade union rights are human rights 28 October 2020

    Belgium: Without consultation with unions, schools close earlier than planned for the holidays

    The Belgian teacher unions strongly reacted to the announcement by the government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to introduce distance learning for secondary school students from 28 October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were unhappy that they were not consulted and that teachers were taken by surprise and left with...

    Belgium: Without consultation with unions, schools close earlier than planned for the holidays
  2. Trade union rights are human rights 28 October 2020

    “Technology & education in a post-Covid era”, by Alison Egan.

    Alison Egan

    The Coronavirus (COVID -19) pandemic has ushered in a new era in education, where technology is now being used by educators to teach, connect and collaborate with students, parents and peers, all while working from their own kitchen table. Most educators have taken to this online pivot with energy and...

    “Technology & education in a post-Covid era”, by Alison Egan.
  3. Union growth 23 October 2020

    Extraordinary Global Education Meeting reaffirms commitments to SDG 4 and calls for accelerated funding and global solidarity

    An extraordinary session of the UNESCO Global Education Meeting (GEM) took place today, 22 October. It was preceded by a technical meeting on the 20th devoted to policy preparation. The meeting focused on global priorities for recovery in education and accelerated action in order to make progress on achieving SDG...

    Extraordinary Global Education Meeting reaffirms commitments to SDG 4 and calls for accelerated funding and global solidarity
  4. Trade union rights are human rights 23 October 2020

    Germany: Public authorities must align health measures in education institutions to infection rates

    The two largest teacher organisations and Education International’ affiliates, the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) and the Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE), and the Federal Parents' Council (BER, German acronym) remain critical of the education authorities’ plans for COVID-19.

    Germany: Public authorities must align health measures in education institutions to infection rates
  5. Union growth 21 October 2020

    “Africa: Collaboration between Unions and Governments for a Better Future in Education”, by Cherine Sabry.

    Cherine Sabry

    Unions and governments have been in conflict since the dawn of time. The mere existence of unions as a force to defend workers’ rights where governments fail to do so in and of itself leads to this conflictual relationship. In Africa, unions have rarely been consulted during the COVID-19 crisis...

    “Africa: Collaboration between Unions and Governments for a Better Future in Education”, by Cherine Sabry.
  6. Trade union rights are human rights 21 October 2020

    Education International’s affiliates show tremendous solidarity amongst educators through the COVID-19 Response Fund

    From the very beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Education International called on global education union solidarity to help member organisations respond to the sanitary crisis and emerge stronger from it in terms of mobilising, organising and capacity-building.

    Education International’s affiliates show tremendous solidarity amongst educators through the COVID-19 Response Fund
  7. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 20 October 2020

    UNESCO prioritises post-COVID-19 education

    Education in the current and post-COVID-19 world will be the focus of an extraordinary session of UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Meeting (2020 GEM) on 22 October. Co-hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom, political leaders, policy makers, and global education actors will have an opportunity to agree on global...

    UNESCO prioritises post-COVID-19 education
  8. Union growth 16 October 2020

    Germany: Education unions critical of KMK’s backward steps and patchwork approach

    Education is taking a step backwards in Germany, according to Education International’s affiliates, the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) and the Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE). The unions were reacting to resolutions agreed by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK, German acronym).

    Germany: Education unions critical of KMK’s backward steps and patchwork approach
  9. Trade union rights are human rights 16 October 2020

    Taiwan: Education union’s pressure prompts a private educational provider to apologise for harassment

    The National Teachers’ Association (NTA) in Taiwan publicly denounced the Kang Hsuan Educational Publishing Group (KH Group) for its unlawful practices concerning public health as well as labour issues. The KH Group is one of the largest private educational corporations in Taiwan.

    Taiwan: Education union’s pressure prompts a private educational provider to apologise for harassment
  10. Fighting the commercialisation of education 15 October 2020

    Iraq: Education union demands improvements in the education sector

    On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, 5 October, the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union (KTU) called on the government to improve educators’ working and living conditions and the quality of education at all levels.

    Iraq: Education union demands improvements in the education sector
  11. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 14 October 2020

    Australia: Educators act against poverty and on mental health issues

    The Australian Education Union (AEU) has invited its members to participate in the national Anti-Poverty Week and to support the wellbeing and mental health of students and colleagues.

    Australia: Educators act against poverty and on mental health issues
  12. Fighting the commercialisation of education 13 October 2020

    IMF must support public investment and stop public sector wage bill constraints

    Today, in a joint webinar with Action Aid and Public Services International, Education International called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stop advising countries to cut or freeze public wage bills.

    IMF must support public investment and stop public sector wage bill constraints
  13. Trade union rights are human rights 9 October 2020

    Africa: Governments and teacher unions highlight benefits of collaboration

    Teachers’ professional issues and government-teacher union collaboration were at the heart of an online seminar on the Future of the Teaching Profession in Africa for 2020.

    Africa: Governments and teacher unions highlight benefits of collaboration
  14. Trade union rights are human rights 9 October 2020

    Global Unions call upon the World Bank and the IMF to support public investment

    The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hold their Annual Meetings on 16-18 October. The International Financial Institutions can play a critical role in ensuring that there is a real and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Trade Union Confederation and Global Union Federations, while...

    Global Unions call upon the World Bank and the IMF to support public investment
  15. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 9 October 2020

    Mexico: Union targets school dropouts during pandemic

    The National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) in Mexico celebrated World Teachers' Day with the delivery of televisions, smartphones, electronic tablets and computer equipment to teachers and students. The aim is to avoid school dropouts during the pandemic by facilitating online teaching and learning.

    Mexico: Union targets school dropouts during pandemic
  16. Trade union rights are human rights 8 October 2020

    Germany: Education stakeholders demand swift implementation of enhanced safety measures in schools

    “Many questions remained unanswered” in terms of guaranteeing safe and healthy teaching and learning environments in Germany. That’s according to the two largest German education unions – the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) and the Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE) - and the Federal Parents' Council (BER) in a statement...

    Germany: Education stakeholders demand swift implementation of enhanced safety measures in schools