Ei-iE

The role of unions in mobilising support for quality education was highlighted at Education International’s 7th World Congress in Ottawa, Canada, on 21 July.

At the Communicators’ Network (ComNet), Congress participants heard about the work of Education International (EI) in lobbying to secure education as a goal in the post-2015 development agenda, the promotion of quality education for all, and EI’s opposition to privatisation in education. The Congress is being held from 21-26 July.

Around 60 Congress participants who are involved in media and communications work with their trade unions attended the ComNet, making it the best-attended ComNet from recent Congress events. They shared examples of successful media campaigns and discussed how to strengthen education unions’ work through the provision of strong communications.

Clear communication

The inclusion of education as a goal in the post-2015 development agenda is underscored by the fact that 58 million children are unable to access education globally. That’s according to Charlie Lennon, Deputy General Secretary at Education International (EI), who highlighted the need for clear and relevant communication by unions in today’s information-rich society.

In addition, Lennon highlighted EI’s ongoing campaign to promote quality education for all through the provision of quality teachers, learning tools, and learning environments. He also highlighted EI’s work in opposing privatisation in the education field, where “governments are selling off education services”, he said.

Campaigns

ComNet participants also heard from different unions about their work and successful campaigns. Representatives from Canadian affiliates – Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), and the British Colombia Teachers’ Federation outlined how they have tailored their campaigns to different audiences in order to maximise their impact and garner support. Other EI affiliates from the United States, France, Uganda, Colombia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria outlined their work mobilising teachers and public support around their campaigns. These inputs were a key part of the Network meeting in showing unions how to tailor a global message to their own national circumstances.

Congress topics

The successful ComNet meeting also heard contributions from Jérémie Magermans (EI's Human and Trade Union Rights Unit) on the Human Rights Policy Paper, Antonia Wulff (EI’s Education Employment Unit) on the post-2015 development goals, and Angelo Gavrielatos (Director of the Global Response project on the commercialisation and privatisation of education) on a global response to privatisation in education.