Ei-iE

In Myanmar, while educators and union leaders continue to face relentless oppression, the military junta that seized power in February 2021 seeks to legitimize its rule through upcoming sham elections. Against this background, Education International (EI) and its member organisations committed to strengthen their support and solidarity with the Myanmar Teacher Federation (MTF), EI’s affiliate in the country.

Education International (EI) hosted a global solidarity webinar with Myanmar on 17 November 2025, bringing together education unionists from around the world to stand with Myanmar’s teachers in their fight for democracy, quality education, and human rights under military rule. The overwhelming solidarity expressed by participants during the event reiterated EI's commitment to strengthening its solidarity efforts, including through an upcoming urgent action appeal to all EI member organisations.

Military junta to organize sham elections

Participants from 22 countries – with strong representation from Asia-Pacific – heard the first-hand testimony from Dr Sai Khaing Myo Tun, leader of the EI-affiliated Myanmar Teacher Federation (MTF) and Deputy Minister of Education in the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar, who provided a political update and shared testimonies of educators resisting military rule.

Dr Sai explained how the military junta has planned sham elections in an attempt to legitimize its seizure of power in a violent coup in February 2021. These elections, scheduled for December 2025 and January 2026, are widely seen as a façade and have been unanimously rejected by all democratic forces, as they will only be held in areas controlled by the military and excluding many ethnic regions.

Dr Sai reaffirmed the legitimacy of the NUG and called for continued global pressure to reject the junta’s electoral process.

Resilience and determination of Myanmar educators

Since the military coup in February 2021, the junta has waged a brutal campaign against democracy activists, educators, and workers, and especially trade unionists. The junta’s systematic efforts to silence voices for democracy include attacks on schools and cultural gatherings, arbitrary detentions, and executions.

Educators and union leaders have been at the forefront of resistance, joining the Civil Disobedience Movement and refusing to work under the junta-controlled education system. They joined the revolution through diverse means – continuing to teach, taking up arms, defending human rights, and promoting democracy. This courage has come at a tremendous cost, harassment, arbitrary detention, torture, and even killings, forcing many into hiding or exile in neighboring countries such as Thailand or India.

Despite the violent repression, more than 150,000 teachers remain active in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), refusing to legitimize the junta’s control. “Many of them are volunteering to teach about 1 million students with no salary and no income,” explained Dr Sai.

Nicole Calnan, Federal Secretary of our own Australian Education Union and board member of Australia Union Aid Abroad APHEDA, reported about a recent field mission to the Thai Myanmar border, where she witnessed firsthand the realities faced by educators and union activists under military rule. She described the resilience of educators working in makeshift schools in resistance zones.

Praising “the determination and courage of those fighting for democracy, human rights, and dignity under unimaginable conditions”, Nicole Calnan stressed the need for sustained international solidarity to support these efforts. “As global unionists, we've got a responsibility to amplify their voices, advocate for meaningful international action, and ensure that aid reaches those who most need it,” she concluded.

Global Solidarity

Many messages of support poured in from unions worldwide – Australia, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kurdistan, Mongolia, Philippines or Taiwan – underscoring the global commitment to defending education and union rights in Myanmar.

“The Teachers Union of Malawi stands firmly with our brothers and sisters in Myanmar during this challenging time. Your bravery in defending democracy, safeguarding teacher union rights, and keeping education alive under repression is truly inspiring. We join this webinar to support your struggle, amplify your voices, and reaffirm our commitment to global solidarity for educators everywhere,” wrote the colleagues from Malawi.

Since the coup, EI has mobilized affiliates to condemn the junta, demand the release of detained educators, and influence intergovernmental bodies such as the UN, ILO, and UNESCO.

Building on the momentum of the webinar, EI committed to the launch of a new urgent action appeal calling on member organizations to:

• engage their Ministries of Foreign Affairs to scrutinize the junta’s elections;
• reaffirm that democracy and human rights must prevail in Myanmar; and
• amplify the voices of educators facing repression.

“Our solidarity today is not symbolic; it is a lifeline for those risking everything to defend education and freedom,” emphasized EI General Secretary David Edwards.

EI and its affiliates stand united in turning words into action in support of Myanmar’s teachers and students.

To follow EI’s solidarity work on Myanmar and other countries facing emergency situations, please visit Solidarity in emergencies (ei-ie.org).