Ei-iE

A new international protocol signed last week on recruitment of teachers will benefit both teachers and students across the Commonwealth countries, according to leading educators.

The EI Standing Committee on Higher education and Research met in Oslo on September 26-28.

Speaking at the EI/CUT Round Table Meeting in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves challenged teacher union leaders to familiarise themselves with the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and its affects upon the free movement of teachers within the region.

The two members of EI affiliate the Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA) detained since 23 September have been released on bail.

BRUSSELS — Governments around the world must improve salaries and working conditions in education if they are to avert a predicted shortage of 18 million teachers and achieve the Millennium Development Goal of Education for All by 2015.

Education International’s taskforce on vocational education and globalization met in Brussels on October 4 to discuss a draft report and recommendations for the Executive Board.

The global human rights group Amnesty International fears for the safety of two Ethiopian teachers detained "incommunicado".

EI have written to the President of Mexico, Vicente Fox Quesada, calling for him to intervene immediately in order to bring about peaceful negotiations between the government and striking teachers.

Education International has written to its Greek affiliates the Greek Primary Teachers Federation (DOE) and Federation of Secondary Teachers of Greece (OLME) in support of their demands for adequate funding for quality education.

Tomorrow, October 5, 2006 marks the 12th annual World Teachers’ Day, proclaimed to acknowledge the teaching profession and celebrate the key role played by teachers everywhere in nurturing the next generation and building democratic societies.

Lebanese teachers’ unions estimate that 25 teachers were among the approximately 1,000 civilians killed in this summer’s attacks by Israeli forces. About 50 schools were completely destroyed and 500 more were severely damaged.

Two teachers were arrested and detained on 23 September for being members of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA). One of the teachers had already suffered severe injuries, at the hands of security officers, earlier this year.

EI wrote to the President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, on 14 Sep to condemn the assassination of another three teachers in August this year. That makes a total of 22 teachers murdered in the country since the beginning of 2006.

EI strongly supports the candidacy of Professor Mesfin Wolde-Mariam on behalf of its affiliate, the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA), for the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

In support of the United Nations campaign for the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals, EI urges all education workers to take part in the STAND UP action to be held on 15-16 October.

As the open-ended strike by Palestinian teachers enters its fourth week, there is still no indication that the government will pay salary arrears owed to teachers.

In a strongly-worded letter to the President Robert G. Mugabe, EI demands that the Zimbabwean government respect the trade union right of all workers.

With Bulgaria poised to enter the European Union and its public education system crumbling, now is an important time for teacher trade unionists to work closely with Bulgarian education officials to advocate for policy changes and funding improvements to benefit students and teachers alike.