Ei-iE

Leading the profession

Teachers and education support personnel know what works in education. They must be recognised and empowered to deliver on the promise of quality education for all.

At the classroom level, academic freedom and professional autonomy are prerequisites for quality teaching and learning. As professionals, teachers must be afforded the space and trust to make the best possible decisions for their students.

Beyond the classroom, education policy must be informed by the vast experience and insights only education professionals can provide. We advocate for the involvement of teachers, education support personnel and their representative organisations in all decision-making in education and work towards the expansion of sectoral policy dialogue at all levels and in all countries.

Our work in this area

  1. Worlds of Education 17 May 2024

    Union action for the rights of LGBTQI+ people: the experience of the CSQ

    Julien Poirier

    The trade union movement is no stranger to fighting for the rights, support and inclusion of LGBTQI+ people in Quebec. In this respect, the ongoing work of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) is of particular importance. Its contribution has stood out over the years. In addition to having...

    Union action for the rights of LGBTQI+ people: the experience of the CSQ
  2. News 17 May 2024

    International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia

    On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Education International has signed the joint Global Union Federation (GUF) LGBTI+ Workers statement. Everybody must see their rights respected!

    International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
  3. News 16 May 2024

    Japan: Union demands changes to address teacher workload and well-being

    As Japanese educators face daunting workloads and extended hours, the Japanese Teachers’ Union has launched the campaign, "Schools in Crisis! Sustainable School System for Quality Education and Educators' Well-being," to advocate for comprehensive reforms, including increased funding and systemic changes in public education.

    Japan: Union demands changes to address teacher workload and well-being
  4. News 14 May 2024

    World Education Support Personnel Day: Honoring their essential role for quality, inclusive education

    On May 16th, World Education Support Personnel (ESP) Day, Education International (EI) and its member organizations reiterate that education professionals – like teaching assistants, school nurses, cafeterias workers, maintenance crews, and bus drivers – play a crucial role in ensuring quality education and a safe learning environment.

    World Education Support Personnel Day: Honoring their essential role for quality, inclusive education
  5. News 14 May 2024

    2024 World Education Support Personnel Day: Communications' toolkit

    Celebrating the crucial role of Education Support Personnel for quality education for all. Education Support Personnel (ESP), a range of professionals like teaching assistants, school nurses, cafeterias workers, maintenance crews, and bus drivers, play a crucial role in ensuring quality education and a safe learning environment.

    2024 World Education Support Personnel Day: Communications' toolkit
  6. News 13 May 2024

    Amid global strife, glimmers of hope for LGBTI+ rights

    There are serious concerns around the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and all other persons whose sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression differ from the social norm (LGBTI+) globally. However, the latest University and College Union (UCU) LGBTI+ webinar showed reasons for hope and testimonies of ongoing...

    Amid global strife, glimmers of hope for LGBTI+ rights
  7. News 13 May 2024

    Development cooperation and the push for privatization of education in Latin America: A view from the front lines

    The Director of the Education International Latin America (EILA) regional office, Combertty Rodríguez, offered a detailed analysis of the growing trend towards the privatization of education in Latin America, revealing the complexities and challenges facing education unionists and public education systems amidst political, economic, and social pressures. He was adamant...

    Development cooperation and the push for privatization of education in Latin America: A view from the front lines
  8. Worlds of Education 6 May 2024

    Are edtech platforms threatening academic freedom and intellectual property rights?

    Janja Komljenovic, Ben Williamson

    Digital platforms are routinely used in universities to support teaching and learning, but they can also challenge academic freedom and intellectual property (IP) rights. In our new report for Education International, ‘Behind the platforms: Safeguarding intellectual property rights and academic freedom in Higher Education’ , we reviewed the landscape of...

    Are edtech platforms threatening academic freedom and intellectual property rights?
  9. News 30 April 2024

    May Day 2024: Education unions call on governments to Go Public! Fund Education

    To mark May Day, Education International, the global voice of the teaching profession, is calling on governments everywhere to fully fund public education systems, and guarantee labour rights and good working conditions for teachers and education support personnel. Well-resourced, inclusive, and equitable quality public education systems are a prerequisite for...

    May Day 2024: Education unions call on governments to Go Public! Fund Education
  10. News 26 April 2024

    Belgium: Education unions join forces to end teacher shortage and austerity

    “Enseignant, pas en saignant” (Teaching, not bleeding). This was one of the slogans used by the 8,000 educators who came from all over Belgium to the capital Brussels to call on politicians to increase funding for public education and put an end to the teacher shortage. The protest took place...

    Belgium: Education unions join forces to end teacher shortage and austerity
  11. News 26 April 2024

    Argentina marches for public education

    Thousands of people across Argentina rallied in defence of a fundamental pillar of their education system: public universities. Faced with a drastic budget cut of 70 percent and inflation of around 300 percent, the country’s public universities are in serious financial trouble.

    Argentina marches for public education
  12. News 23 April 2024

    Development cooperation partners rally behind UN High-Level Panel recommendations for the teaching profession

    In the wake of the United Nations (UN) High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession's unveiling of 59 groundbreaking recommendations , a pivotal question arises: How can Education International (EI) member organizations effectively leverage these guidelines in their capacity building and advocacy? This question took center stage during an online ‘Development...

    Development cooperation partners rally behind UN High-Level Panel recommendations for the teaching profession
  13. News 22 April 2024

    ISTP 2024: Empowering teachers to shape equitable futures

    The 14th International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) is taking place in Singapore, from April 22-24, bringing together education ministers and leaders from education unions across 19 countries.

    ISTP 2024: Empowering teachers to shape equitable futures
  14. Worlds of Education 21 April 2024

    Bringing governments and education unions together

    David Edwards

    For the well-being of students, our communities and our countries, governments must increase investment in public education systems, including quality teacher training and professional development, guarantee labor rights and good working conditions, involve teacher unions in policymaking and trust and respect teachers and their professional expertise.

    Bringing governments and education unions together
  15. Publications

    International Summit of the Teaching Profession 2024: Reimagining Education, Realising Potential

    A Briefing by Education International
    21 April 2024

    From 22 to 24 April 2024, the 14th edition of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession brings together governments and education unions from 19 countries to explore the theme “Reimagining Education, Realising Potential”

    International Summit of the Teaching Profession 2024: Reimagining Education, Realising Potential
    1. Download
    2. A Briefing by Education International
  16. Worlds of Education 17 April 2024

    Education Voices | Improving terms and conditions in higher education through collective bargaining in Denmark

    Tommy Dalegaard Madsen

    Tommy Dalegaard Madsen is the Chairman of DM’s Sectoral Board for Vocational Colleges, Vocational Academies and Maritime Education. DM represents 75,000 academic professionals in Denmark, and it is the most representative trade union in further and higher education. In this interview for Worlds of Education, he shares his perspectives on...

    Education Voices | Improving terms and conditions in higher education through collective bargaining in Denmark