Ei-iE

Education International (EI) affiliates in Nepal came together in the capital city Kathmandu for a three-day Gender Justice Training, aimed at strengthening union capacity to promote gender equality and end gender-based discrimination in the education sector.

The event took place as part of the “Transforming Asia Pacific teachers’ unions leading Agenda 2030” Program, which is supported by EI, the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) and the Trade Union Solidarity Center of Finland (SASK).

Held from November 14th-16th, 2025, this training was attended by representatives of the Nepal Teachers’ Association (NTA), the Nepal National Teachers’ Association (NNTA), the Independent School Teachers’ Union (ISTU), and the Nepal School Employees Council (NSEC), who engaged in intensive learning, dialogue and planning sessions.

Need to advance gender-responsive unionism

The training focused on developing a shared understanding of gender injustice and how discrimination affects educators and union members, as well as examining the structural and cultural roots of inequality. The program also reviewed international frameworks, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), key International Labour Organization (ILO) standards, and instruments relevant to gender equality in education and the world of work.

Participants acquired knowledge about ILO Convention 190 and the need for union advocacy for its ratification by the Government of Nepal. Case studies illustrated the different forms of violence and harassment experienced by education workers, the impact on educators’ well-being and safety, and systemic barriers to reporting and justice. Affiliates explored strategies to integrate protection measures into social dialogue, union policy, and advocacy.

Participants reaffirmed that gender justice is not only a women’s rights issue, but a core trade union responsibility essential to building democratic, inclusive, and representative organisations. The programme encouraged stronger coordination among NTA, NNTA, ISTU and the EI Asia-Pacific (EIAP) office to advance gender-responsive unionism and promote safe, equitable schools.

Young teachers and unionists also reflected on the empowering nature of the programme. ISTU’s Bhawna Bhatta, one of the youngest participants, shared: “For young teachers and new union leader like me, this space was empowering. While we often enter unions without knowing how to shape them, I now clearly see that our voices matter to build a union culture that is safe, equal, and inclusive.”

Union gender policies and action plans: empowering change in schools and unions

At the conclusion of the training, participating unions endorsed the following initial action points, i.e., establishing:

• Union Gender Equality Policies, and
• Gender Justice Action Plans to strengthen inclusion, representation, and workplace protections.

Key priorities include strengthening women’s committees, establishing a joint women’s network with all EI affiliates in Nepal, capacity building programmes for women leaders and ensuring greater representation of women in decision-making bodies.

The programme concluded with a shared commitment to expand this work within unions, schools, and communities.

Looking ahead, EIAP Regional Director Anand Singh highlighted that realizing gender justice must be rooted not only in our core values, but also “within our organizational structures, negotiation aims, and leadership positions. This training is another step in building unions where every member—regardless of gender—can participate, lead, and shape the future of public education.”