Ei-iE

Education International member organisations in Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom have teamed up for a project in support of the General Union of Palestinian Teachers, its members, and their students.

SADTU (South Africa), NEU (United Kingdom), FENPROF (Portugal), FLC CGIL (Italy), FECCOO (Spain), STEs Intersindical (Spain), and AEU (Australia) are working with the General Union of Palestinian Teachers (GUPT) to provide broad capacity-building trainings to hundreds of female teachers across Palestine. In addition, hundreds of teachers in Gaza and the West Bank who have not received their salary for over a year, will receive financial assistance.

“We want to express our deepest solidarity to Palestinian teachers and unionists and honour their unbreakable commitment to keep education going against all odds”, stated the participating unions.

Rising against the scholasticide in Gaza

The EI member organisations involved stated that they are standing together to raise awareness of the scholasticide in Gaza, to support colleagues affected, and to help put an end to the violence against school communities.

“What the world is witnessing in Gaza is unprecedented in terms of losses among civilians. Israel has bombed all of Gaza's 11 universities since October 7, 2023. Around 370 schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving more than 620,000 students out of school. All public libraries are gone. The UN defines this as scholasticide - the systemic obliteration of education through the arrest, detention or killing of teachers, students and staff and the destruction of educational infrastructure”, the unions stressed.

Outraged by the continued violence and injustice, the unions embarked on a project of psychological and financial support for teachers and students in Gaza and the West Bank. The aim of the project is to enable colleagues in Palestine to continue their work and keep hope alive despite the devastation.

Helping teachers in Palestine acquire socio-emotional skills to support students amid war

The series of trainings supported by international colleagues will be delivered to hundreds of female teachers across Palestine by the GUPT. The series kicked off on July 15th with an online training for 100 female teachers from the West Bank who have recently joined the profession.

The training series will continue across the next two months, covering topics such as social-emotional learning, the use of technology in education, and the role of women in trade unions.

Shaped by the reality of war, occupation, and widespread trauma experienced by students and teachers, the training sessions aim to enhance female teachers’ socio-emotional skills, strengthen their skills in designing socio-emotional learning activities, improve their ability to use technology in education, expand their role in the union, enhance their competences in using project based learning, and deliver political education on gender, trade unionism, and anti-racism.

In addition, GUPT members will continue to provide emotional support to the children of Gaza and the West Bank who have been experiencing life-changing trauma.

“We would like our members and our fellow education unionists around the world to know that every day, a teacher in Gaza, Ramallah or Jenin wakes up and, despite the destruction around her, tries to find her way to her pupils and strives to do her teaching”, they reiterated in the video.

Educators call for peace

Education International calls for the protection of education and the safeguarding of children and teachers in Gaza and all areas affected by conflict. EI has also condemned the Hamas attacks on October 7th 2023, and called for the release of all hostages.

As stated in EI Congress Resolution on peace education: “Wars and conflicts are the greatest violations of human rights”. The EI Congress underscored the “urgent need to uphold peace, democracy, human rights, and the values of solidarity and humanism as the foundation of just and equitable societies”.

Amid a global rise in armed conflict, EI consistently calls for peace, disarmament, and inclusive dialogue, with the involvement of trade union representatives grounded in international law and human rights. We support the right of all peoples, including Palestinians, to self-determination, dignity and freedom from oppression.

EI calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urges governments, political leaders, and international bodies to recommit to multilateralism, peace and respect for human dignity, grounded in the principles of democracy, self-determination, social justice and equity. EI also reaffirms that education is not only a tool for peace but also for liberation and justice. In the context of occupation and systemic oppression, education empowers communities to resist and rebuild.

EI stands in solidarity with all people affected by war and will continue to advocate for a peaceful and just world where schools remain safe places of joy, learning, and growth.