Ei-iE

The new issue of EI's bulletin on GATS and the WTO, TradEducation, has just been published. In this issue, we talk about the New Zealand government spearheading an effort to open up their private higher education "market", EI's meeting with key WTO negotiators and rules on domestic regulations.

With Global Action Week on Education almost upon us, world leaders are under pressure to make a move on education sector commitments. As part of the Global Action Week campaign, EI President Thulas Nxesi yesterday called on governments worldwide to translate words into actions and to spend more on education.

EI recently commisioned an article by Ugandan journalist about the everyday life of local teachers. To give the world an insight into the hardships and challenges faced by teachers in the impoverished country, Harriette Athieno Onyalla met with several of them, who told her of the hopes and disappointments they...

EI issued a formal letter to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia on 4 Apr, protesting against the ruling of the Ethiopian Federal High Court on 30 March to recognise the government-sponsored Ethiopian Teacher Association instead of the authentic Ethiopian Teacher Association affiliated to EI.

EI affiliate the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called on its members to brace for a nationwide strike should the Government fail to implement the remaining phase of their salary increase scheme.

More than 5,000 temporary teachers have been permanently absorbed by the Limpopo education department with effect from the beginning of April.

Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun caused a sensation among teachers, saying “It is the teacher who is the most strongly opposed to social change.” at a gathering with Korean compatriots in Egypt.

EI held a series of meetings with the officials and negotiators of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as services negotiations resumed in Geneva this week. Monique Fouilhoux, EI’s education and employment co-ordinator, was joined by representatives of affiliates from Australia, Canada, and Denmark.

EI witnessed another dramatic development affecting teachers and their union in Ethiopia. On Thursday 30 March 2006, the Ethiopian Federal High Court ruled that the authentic ETA leadership (EI's affiliate) has to hand over every asset and property of the association to a government-sponsored group also called ETA.

On the occasion of the consultations held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington DC, USA, from 27 to 31 March 2006, EI Deputy General Secretary Elie Jouen also took part in the meeting of the TUAC group on economic issues, which was responsible for...

After several weeks of locking horns with government negotiators, officials of EI affiliate the Bahamas Union of Teachers have instructed public school teachers to go on "work to rule" and threatened that more serious action could follow.

An estimated 90,000 Norwegian schoolteachers took part in a spot strike on Thursday to protest proposed working-hour reforms.

EI affiliate the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) reports that 544 teachers in the Southern region have not been paid properly as the result of a new Payroll System.

Education International has written a letter of support to French affiliates concerning the First Employment Contract (CPE) job law.

The March/April 2006 issue of Worlds of Education, Education International’s bi-monthly magazine, is now available.

Within the framework of Global Action Week's activities to be held from 24th to 30th April, EI issued an open letter on 30 March, signed by the President and General Secretary of EI, recalling the issues behind this year's message "Every Child Needs a Teacher".

The EI Research Network is holding its second meeting in Brussels from 29-30 March. The network comprises research officers from EI affiliates.

EI affiliate the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has welcomed the formal establishment of the Teaching Council as the professional body for Ireland's teachers.