Ei-iE

A rally organised by EI affiliate the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia (ESFTUG) was successful in persuading the Parliament of Georgia to increase the funding of education during the budget discussion.

The Government of the Republic of Montenegro signed the Branch Collective Agreement with EI affiliate the Independent Union of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Montenegro (ITUESCSM) on 23 December, 2005 after Education International’s intervention.

Bail has again been denied to the 131 government opponents and critics detained by Ethiopian authorities.

No state school opening its doors over the next two weeks is likely to waive fees, despite Education Minister Naledi Pandor’s promise to that effect, EI affiliate SADTU said.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement on 4 January deploring the "series of defamation, incitement and disinformation law suits and arrests of members of civil society, trade unions, media and the Sam Rainsy opposition party in the course of last year."

Bulgarian teachers stopped their hunger strike in December, though EI affiliates SEB and Podkrepa have refused to sign a wage agreement offered by the government and will remain on strike alert when term commences on 10 th January.

"It is with deep sadness that I learned about the death of Aberrahmane, a longstanding comrade and friend," said EI's Deputy General Secretary Elie Jouen.

EI affiliate the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers' Association (TTUTA) is threatening to take legal action to protect the rights of teachers at two technical institutes.

UK Chancellor Gordon Brown is urging nations to build on their promise at the G8 summit last year to more than double aid to Africa and join a £6bn drive to bring free education to all children.

The Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) is seeking a 55 per cent increase over the 2006-2008 contract period after a two year wage freeze under the Public Sector Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Fifteen separate charges, including conspiracy, armed insurrection, attempting to subvert the constitution, high treason and genocide, were presented in court by prosecutors on 16 December against the 131 government opponents and critics detained by Ethiopian authorities.

Education International is continuing to exert pressure on the government of Cambodia to request the immediate release of Mr. Rong Chhun, President of CITA, and the withdrawal of arrest warrants against three other democratic leaders.

Bulgarian teachers organised by EI affiliates SEB and PODKREPA started their strike for better working conditions on 25 November. On 18 December, the president of SEB, Janka Takeva, addressed an open letter to the representative of the International Monetary Fund who took part in a meeting with the Bulgarian Ministry...

Education International, the world’s largest federation of teachers' unions with 29 million members worldwide today announced a partnership with the Global Learning Portal. This powerful online network and set of collaborative tools will benefit teachers, administrators, and education policymakers around the world.

EI issued a letter to its Latin American colleagues on 8 December, urging them to step up their solidarity with Guatemalan affiliate, the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación (STEG).

Kindergarten teachers in New Zealand went on strike on 8 Dec in unprecedented numbers to protect the quality of education they provide to 45,000 children and families throughout the country.

NASUWT, a British EI affiliate, is hosting their Disabled Members’ Consultation Conference this weekend.

First of all, a co-ordination and mobilisation meeting was held among delegates from the EI family to discuss the last initiatives of some governments in relation to GATS and the possible scenarios which might turn out later in the day in the meetings with governmental delegations and during the workshops...