Ei-iE

On Saturday 15 September hundreds of thousands of demonstrators from all over Spain packed into the Plaza de Colón in Madrid to demand a change to the government’s policy of spending cuts. The rally was organised by the Cumbre Social (Social Summit), an association of over 150 organisations, including the...

EI has welcomed the recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) analysis, demonstrating that some governments unilaterally reformed collective bargaining arrangements at the height of the economic crisis. The ILO stated that reversing those decisions and providing policy support for collective bargaining would be key to recovery.

The EI’s “Comité syndical francophone de l’Education et de la Formation” (CSFEF – Francophone trade union education and training committee) held its 13th meeting in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on 3 and 4 September. It discussed the theme of the forthcoming Francophone Summit to be held,...

The University and College Union (UCU), one of EI’s national affiliates, is publicising a petition to support international students at the London Metropolitan University (LMU) who have been affected by the last month decision of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to revoke the Tier 4 licence of the LMU.

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), the National Union of Teachers (NUT), and the University and College Union (UCU), three EI’s national affiliates, have commented on the publication of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) results. The GCSE is an academic qualification awarded in a...

The Trade Union of Workers in Education and Science of Slovakia (OZ PŠaV), one of EI’s national affiliates, embarked on a one-day strike on 13 September. It is dissatisfied with the Government’s 2013 budget proposal and fiscal roadmap for 2014-15, which do not address the presently unsustainable situation in education.

On 5 September, over 10,000 protesters took to the streets of Brasilia and other Brazilian states under the banner: Independence equals quality education and decent work. They demanded the strengthening of public education through the approval in 2012 of the National Plan for Education.

As many as 6,000 US teachers are facing potential dismissal due to recent education reforms that were passed in Chicago, a city which houses the third-largest public school district in the country.

EI has reacted to the launch of the latest Education at a Glance (EaG) by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This report states its case for a public investment in education, arguing that the gap between well-educated and poorly educated persons has widened as a result of...

In view of the final appeals hearing in the cases of Bahraini teacher unionists Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila Al Salman, there is growing concern that harsh earlier sentences, will be upheld by the appeals court - as in another ruling against Bahraini activists earlier this week.

International Literacy Day on 8 September is a reminder that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning. At EI, the 46th celebration of this Day, focusing this year on “Peace through Literacy”, is eagerly anticipated.

EI’s affiliate, the Cooperative Council of Iranian Teachers Trade Associations, CCITTA, has condemned the new Iranian legislation denying female students access to higher education.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), two of EI’s national affiliates, began their strike over pay on Monday, 3 September. Teachers defied a court decision declaring their strike illegal and asserted educators’ right to strike. Following their strike, unions...

The President of the South African Education Union (SAOU), Dr. Jopie Breed, has expressed concern about the declining capacity of South African’s schools to successfully meet the country’s need for quality schooling.

EI’s affiliate in Peru, Sindicato Unitario de Trabajadores de la Educación del Perú (SUTEP), has called for an indefinite national strike from 5 September. SUTEP decided to call the strike after months of attempted negotiation without result on its claims for basic labour rights.

The Australian Education Union (AEU), one of EI’s national affiliates, has strongly rejected the claims by Opposition leader Tony Abbott that public schools are overfunded in comparison with private schools.

Long journeys to school caused by the closing of local schools have a negative impact on students’ health and on their education achievement levels. That’s one of the conclusions of the latest study on absenteeism undertaken by the scientific Institute of the German health care insurance company AOK, highlighted by...

The Commonwealth Teachers’ Group (CTG), a grouping of EI member organisations in the Commonwealth, has called for holistic education, catering for the diverse needs of all students.