Germany’s union for education and science is gearing up to host a conference in September focused on helping teachers navigate the challenges of working in a 21st century classroom.
Education International’s (EI) affiliate, The Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW), will launch its GEW Forum on the future of teacher training with a conference, Beyond Teacher Education,in Leipzig, central Germany on 25 September.
“Inclusive education, school structural reforms, full-time teaching: not only the requirements for schools, but also the challenges for teachers are changing,” said GEW Deputy President and board member responsible for Universities and Research Dr. Andreas Keller.“ Not least, thegrowing diversity in the classroom means that teachers must be more than just pedagogues. Meeting these new challenges requires good qualifications before entering the profession and continuous in-service training for teachers.”
The GEW adopted an “action plan on teacher education” at its 27th national union conference in 2013 held in Dusseldorf, putting the reform of teacher education on the next year’s agenda, he reminded.
During the fall, the new Forum on teacher training will also begin its work. Representatives of Länder (states) associations, professional groups and GEW branches, as well as experts and representatives from federal and state universities and educational organisations will take part.
“All teachers and teaching staff, as well as academics and teacher students are cordiallyinvited to the conference,” said Keller. “This event is a GEW contribution to the EI's Unite for Quality Education campaign and will be a great start for our new GEW Forum on the future of teacher training and a good preparation to World Teachers’ Day on 5 October.”
The conference will also see EI Deputy General Secretary Haldis Holst give a presentation on “What makes a good teacher and a good teacher? Professionalisation, skills and conflict of interest” shedding an international light on this topic.
For more information, please contact GEW International Secretary Manfred Brinkmann.