Ei-iE

At a time when public education budgets are being slashed, Indian teachers' unions are stepping up to drive transformative change in classrooms across the nation. Demonstrating the powerful role of teachers’ unions in transforming education, more than 350 educators and union leaders from across India gathered at the National Educational Innovation Workshop held in Keshav Dham, Vrindavan, on May 31st, 2025. Organized by the Shaikshik Navachar Association, Uttar Pradesh – affiliated with the All India Federation of Teachers’ Organizations (AIFTO), an Education International (EI) member organization – the workshop served as a platform for frontline educators, many of them active union members, to present self-developed, classroom-tested innovations that are improving student learning.

A movement reclaiming professionalism

The event was opened by AIFTO General Secretary Mr. C.L. Rose and Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh, President of the Shaikshik Navachar Association, Uttar Pradesh, and Chair of the AIFTO National Educational Innovation Committee. In his keynote remarks, Mr. Rose emphasized that the workshop illustrates how unionized teachers are leading efforts to transform education from the ground up. “At a time when governments are cutting public education budgets and neglecting teachers' professional development, it is educators themselves—often using their own resources—who are driving innovation in classrooms. This shows a deep commitment to the profession and to students,” he said.

Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh highlighted that the Shaikshik Navachar Association will continue to host this workshop annually to promote the exchange of ideas and foster a national network of teacher innovators. “This is more than a platform—it’s a movement to reclaim professionalism and dignity in teaching,” he said.

Innovations from the ground up

Teachers from across the country presented their innovations through multimedia formats. Among the standout presentations were:

• Dr. Sapan Kumar (Jharkhand), who mobilized local communities to support learning for underprivileged children.
• Mr. Kamlesh Kumar Baluni (Uttarakhand), who adapted low-cost tools to deliver engaging lessons in rural areas.
• Ms. Sunita Yadav (Chhattisgarh), who developed science teaching aids from everyday materials.
• Mr. Abdul Kaleem (Rajasthan), who introduced multilingual methods for inclusive learning.
• Mr. Manoj Barshney (DIET Agra), who linked innovation to teacher training and curriculum delivery.

Many of these initiatives were developed without formal institutional funding or external assistance, reflecting a strong sense of mission among teachers. Their efforts underscore how, even in the face of inadequate public investment and policy neglect, educators are finding ways to improve education through creativity, resourcefulness, and solidarity.

A call for governmental support

EI Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Mr. Anand Singh, commended the participants and organizers, reaffirming the key message of the EI Go Public! Fund Education campaign: “The dedication shown by these teachers—investing their own time and resources to improve learning outcomes—is both inspiring and humbling. It is time for governments to listen, act, and match this commitment by investing in teachers, supporting professional development, and ensuring adequate public funding for education. Teachers are not the problem—they are the solution,” he said.

This workshop showed the power of teachers’ unions in driving educational innovation. As governments continue to cut public education budgets, it is the educators themselves who are stepping up to ensure that students receive the quality education they deserve.