Project Database
EI Mena Initiative
| Country: | Lebanon |
| Start Date: | 2009-06-01 |
| Deadline: | |
| Host organisations: |
Teachers Syndicate of Lebanon
(TSL)
League of Secondary Public School Teachers in Lebanon (LPESPL) |
| Co-operating organisations: |
EI MENA Consortium
|
| Related Links: | |
| Grouping: | Middle East North Africa Programme |
Project Summary:
The EI Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Initiative started in 2008 and its overall objectives are to provide technical, material and political assistance to teacher organisations in the MENA region, to encourage the development of independent teacher unionism in the region, to provide the means and tools by which teacher organisations can organise and train their membership and teachers in professional issues.
The overall coordination for the MENA initiative is provided by EI in collaboration with cooperating partners (AFT/USA; NUT and NASUWT/UK; UNSA-Education/France; DLF/Denmark; and UEN/Norway) through a working group.
The first MENA seminar was organised in Beirut, from 12-14 October 2009 on the theme: ‘Teacher Unions in the Middle East and North Africa: A Vital element in Labour Rights and Education for All’. It was a very good platform for unions of the region and cooperating partners to get to know each other and deepen their understanding of common challenges. Following this regional seminar, MENA unions were invited to inform EI about their national needs and priorities. In addition EI continued exploring possibilities to work with new independent unions that are not EI members.
The general outcome of the Beirut seminar was a working plan for the period 2010-2011 combining bilateral cooperation among EI partners and members and focusing on capacities and needs of teacher unions and associations at national level.
TSL (Teachers Syndicate of Lebanon)
TSL proposed a long term plan of cooperation to EI in 2009 aimed at providing union training to enhance the capacities of the union and increase its membership as well as professional development training as a recruitment tool. This plan entails in parallel developing the union members ‘skills, and developing the educational capacities of members. TSL aims to establish a network of union activists and trainers, trained on different union and professional topics.
Activities from 2008 to date:
- A training workshop for the development of union work facilitated by trainers from UNSA Education/France held from October 3 to 5, 2008.
- A training workshop on Professional Development facilitated by AFT/USA trainers followed by practice training by TSL trainers and observed by AFT trainers in 2 geographical districts in Lebanon in January, 22 to 31, 2010.
- Practice training by TSL trainers in further two regions in Lebanon from April 31 to May 1, and May 22 to 23. 2010.
Future planned training:
- Professional training on evaluation methods and techniques, ‘Educational direction in Schools’, follow up of students (socially and psychologically) scheduled for September 2010 -2011.
- Union training on recruitment, and reactivation of the structure of TSL school representatives at schools scheduled for September 2010-2011.
LPESPL (League of Secondary Public School Teachers in Lebanon)
LPESPL presented a proposal to EI in 2009 to enhance the role of LPESPL as a union body, and preserve its solidarity, and to build a network of union members active at the national level to continue the work of LPESPL in preserving the rights and acquired interests of public teachers.
Activities from 2008 to date:
- A training workshop for the development of union work facilitated by trainers from UNSA Education/France on August 28-30, 2008.
- EI supported a research by LPESPL on the pension system proposed by the government. This is part of the union’s advocacy plan for teachers’ rights and status, and a stronger public teacher’s league. The research results will be used as a negotiation tool for the union regarding the proposed new pension law (March-June 2010).
Similar projects elsewhere in the region:
Egypt - Social Dialogue with Teachers Unions in Egypt Iraq - Capacity Building Iraq - Organizing, Capacity Building Iraq - EI Mena Initiative Kuwait - EI Mena Initiative Palestine - EI Mena Initiative Yemen - Democratic Union Leadership, Professional Development Yemen - EI Mena Initiative
