Need for quality teaching and learning environments highlighted
The importance and benefit of quality environments in teaching and learning was emphasised by delegates at Education International’s 7th World Congress in Ottawa, Canada on 23 July.
On behalf of EI’s Executive Board, Marième Sakho Dansokho, SYPROS, Sénégal, proposed the resolution (1.2) on Quality Environments for Teaching and Learning, saying that appropriate standards for quality environments needed to be set and must be defined by inter-governmental organisations such as UNESCO and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The resolution mandates EI’s Executive Board to develop the definition of standards for supportive, comfortable, safe, and secure environments for teaching and learning. And it must pursue the application of these standards at national and international level.
Win-win situation
Delegates pointed out that quality environments did not just benefit students but teachers also. “In Sweden, teachers are on all the lists of stressful occupations,” said Sandra Wahlström of Lärarförbundet, adding that better conditions for teachers and students is a “win-win situation for everyone”.
Melissa Cropper of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) said that “millions of children go to school in environments that are sub-standard and inhuman. We can no longer remain silent.”
Earlier, in contributions on amendments to the resolution, delegates called for greater account to be taken of gender identity and expression. Congress also mandated the Executive Board to include the term ‘religion’ as a category of potential discrimination that students must be protected from, alongside gender, race, and personal characteristics such as disabilities, ethnic origin, and sexual orientation.
