Ei-iE

On World Mental Health Day, Education International launched two new initiatives dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of teachers and education support personnel around the world. The network and resource centre will allow education unions to share best practices in order to foster healthier, more supportive environments for education workers everywhere.

“When educators feel safe, supported, and valued, they create classrooms that are inclusive, joyful, and transformative. But when teachers are overwhelmed, isolated, and under resourced, the entire education ecosystem suffers”, stated Mugwena Maluleke, Education International President.

A community of action for health and well-being

Created in partnership with the Mutuelle Générale de l'Éducation Nationale (MGEN), both the network and the resource centre were developed in line with the resolution of the 10th EI World Congress on Teacher and ESP wellbeing and mental health: vital for quality education.

The new Network on Health and Well-being replaces the Education and Solidarity Network and aims to connect EI member organisations and partners around the world, enabling them to share experiences and strategies to promote the well-being of teachers and education support personnel.

The Health and Well-being Hub is designed to foster networking and the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and resources. The Hub provides a wide range of resources such as research, guides, toolkits, and more on a variety of topics, including mental health, physical health, workload, violence and harassment, women’s health, working conditions, and climate change. The content featured on the Hub has been developed by EI member organisations around the world, as well as international or regional organisations.

Network members are encouraged to share their own resources to be included in the Hub.

Action is imperative

The health and well-being of education workers around the world is under strain. Educators are under immense pressure from rising expectations, heavy workloads, growing stress and all forms of violence.

In recent years, challenges have intensified. Educators are still struggling with the long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic while also navigating the rapid integration of digital technologies, the impact of climate change, safety concerns in the face of rising conflict and violence, austerity measures, and more.

These challenges are contributing to the global shortage of 50 million teachers - 44 million teachers in primary and secondary education and 6 million teachers in early childhood education. As more teachers leave the profession and fewer people choose to join it, the crisis deepens. Attrition rates are truly alarming – across countries, almost 10% of teachers are leaving the profession within the first 5 years on the job.

“Governments, by and large, have been slow to respond. That is why Education International, has placed health and well-being at the top of our agenda”, Maluleke stressed, welcoming the joint EI-MGEN initiative and encouraging education unions to contribute and engage.