Ei-iE

EI affiliate the Association of University Teachers (AUT) has expressed its amazement at the salary increases of the vice-chancellors and principals on the board of the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association (UCEA).

CITA have informed EI that Rong Chhun, their president who was arrested on October 15, was released on bail yesterday. Chhun’s release on bail follows a campaign of intense pressure by the international trade union movement, including the ICFTU, Education International and a number of its affiliates.

EI affiliate the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) is angered over proposals to import maths and science teachers from India and Botswana.

EI affiliate the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has vowed to resist any attempts by the Minister for Finance to slash the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Education.

EI affiliates in France will be joined by the national students’ union UNEF between January 30 and February 4 in protesting against the government’s lack of investment in education.

Botswana has announced the reintroduction of fees in its state secondary schools after more than 20 years of free education.

A rally organised by EI affiliate the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia (ESFTUG) was successful in persuading the Parliament of Georgia to increase the funding of education during the budget discussion.

The Government of the Republic of Montenegro signed the Branch Collective Agreement with EI affiliate the Independent Union of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Montenegro (ITUESCSM) on 23 December, 2005 after Education International’s intervention.

Bail has again been denied to the 131 government opponents and critics detained by Ethiopian authorities.

No state school opening its doors over the next two weeks is likely to waive fees, despite Education Minister Naledi Pandor’s promise to that effect, EI affiliate SADTU said.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement on 4 January deploring the "series of defamation, incitement and disinformation law suits and arrests of members of civil society, trade unions, media and the Sam Rainsy opposition party in the course of last year."

Bulgarian teachers stopped their hunger strike in December, though EI affiliates SEB and Podkrepa have refused to sign a wage agreement offered by the government and will remain on strike alert when term commences on 10 th January.

"It is with deep sadness that I learned about the death of Aberrahmane, a longstanding comrade and friend," said EI's Deputy General Secretary Elie Jouen.

EI affiliate the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers' Association (TTUTA) is threatening to take legal action to protect the rights of teachers at two technical institutes.

UK Chancellor Gordon Brown is urging nations to build on their promise at the G8 summit last year to more than double aid to Africa and join a £6bn drive to bring free education to all children.

The Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) is seeking a 55 per cent increase over the 2006-2008 contract period after a two year wage freeze under the Public Sector Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Fifteen separate charges, including conspiracy, armed insurrection, attempting to subvert the constitution, high treason and genocide, were presented in court by prosecutors on 16 December against the 131 government opponents and critics detained by Ethiopian authorities.

Education International is continuing to exert pressure on the government of Cambodia to request the immediate release of Mr. Rong Chhun, President of CITA, and the withdrawal of arrest warrants against three other democratic leaders.