Caring for educators, caring for our communities

Welcome to the Education International hub dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of teachers and education support personnel (ESP) around the world. Developed in partnership with MGEN, this hub reflects our collective commitment to place education workers’ health and well-being at the centre of the global education agenda, as outlined in our 10th World Congress resolution “ Teacher and ESP well-being and mental health: vital for quality education”.

Whether you are looking for good practices, strategies, or inspiration, this hub is designed to empower unions and education communities to foster healthier, more supportive environments for teachers and education support personnel worldwide.

Share your knowledge

This hub is intended as a tool for sharing knowledge, experiences, and resources. EI member organisations are invited to contribute by sharing the resources they have developed on the health and well-being of education personnel.
You can submit your resources by filling in the form accessible through the link below:

Submit your resource

The guide recognizes menopause as both an occupational health and equality issue for women educators. It offers practical workplace adjustments to support staff experiencing menopausal symptoms. The guide encourages open dialogue, awareness among all staff, and the implementation of supportive policies. It includes resources like posters, paper fans, model policies, and checklists for leaders and union reps, aiming to foster a more inclusive and comfortable working environment for women.

Open resource in English

Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2025

Region: Europe
Topics: Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

The toolkit offers a comprehensive, whole-school approach to tackling gender-based discrimination and abuse. It provides practical guidance across five key themes, leadership, staff, students, curriculum, and community, and five threads including inclusion, interpersonal dynamics, and imagery. Designed to be flexible and adaptable, the toolkit encourages collective reflection and long-term cultural change. It includes resources such as videos, posters, PowerPoint presentations, and model policy clauses to support staff in creating safer, more respectful school environments.

Open resource in English

Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2025

Region: Europe
Topics: Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Online ressource

The research explores the growing issue of violence against teachers in schools. It challenges the notion that stricter discipline, such as the revival of corporal punishment, would resolve classroom disorder. Instead, the article argues that the root causes lie in deeper systemic issues within school environments. Drawing on data and expert insights, it highlights how inadequate support, deteriorating conditions, and policy gaps contribute to the vulnerability of educators, urging a reevaluation of how schools address safety and discipline.

Open resource in English

Publisher: Sunstone Institute
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2025

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Safety Violence and harassment Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Online ressource

The guidance page by SNES-FSU addressing the impact of extreme heat on working conditions in French schools can serve as inspiration to other organisations when their schools experience similar extreme weather conditions. It outlines the rights of education staff during heatwaves, including adjustments to working hours, access to drinking water, and the possibility of exercising alert and withdrawal rights in unsafe conditions. The page also highlights SNES-FSU’s advocacy efforts with the Ministry of Education, pushing for flexible exam schedules and better protection for vulnerable staff. It emphasizes the need for long-term investment in school infrastructure to adapt to climate change and ensure safe working environments.

Open resource in French

Publisher: Syndicat national des enseignements de second degré (SNES-FSU)
Country: France
Year of publication: 2025

Region: Europe
Topics: Climate change Physical health Working conditions
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Online ressource

The guidance supports women returning from maternity leave who wish to continue breastfeeding. It advocates for risk assessments, flexible work arrangements, suitable rest facilities, and paid breastfeeding breaks to ensure dignity and safety. The page includes practical resources such as model policies, sample letters for members and reps, checklists for leaders, and campaign materials. While some schools and colleges embrace these practices, the NEU highlights that many women still face degrading treatment.

Open resource in English

Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2024

Region: Europe
Topics: Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Online ressource

The guide addresses the urgent issue of suicide prevention in educational workplaces, highlighting the elevated risk among school staff, particularly female primary and nursery teachers. It outlines warning signs, risk factors, and immediate actions to take if someone is in crisis, while advocating for suicide to be recognized as a work-related death under health and safety law. The guide also provides links to resources such as factsheets, legal duties for employers, and practical steps for union reps, aiming to foster a supportive environment and reduce stigma around mental health.

Open resource in English

Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2024

Region: Europe
Topics: Mental health Physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Online ressource

The INEE Minimum Standards offer a compilation of guidances that emphasize the importance of creating safe, secure, and nurturing learning environments that support the psychosocial and physical wellbeing of learners, teachers, and education support personnel. It outlines key actions such as promoting positive classroom management, preventing school-related gender-based violence, ensuring safe school infrastructure, and training staff on protection mechanisms and referrals. The standard also highlights the role of community participation and risk reduction strategies in safeguarding education spaces, especially in insecure or crisis-affected areas.

Open resource in English

Publisher: Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)
Year of publication: 2024

Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Safety Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Online ressource

The Joint Union Heatwave Protocol from the NEU provides practical guidance for schools and colleges to prepare for and respond to extreme heat events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. It outlines short-term measures such as adjusting dress codes, modifying lunch menus, relocating classes, and ensuring access to water and ventilation. It also recommends long-term planning, including retrofitting buildings, improving ventilation, and conducting risk assessments to protect staff and students. The protocol encourages collaboration between employers and union representatives to ensure health, safety, and minimal disruption to learning during heatwaves

Open resource in English

Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2023

Region: Europe
Topics: Climate change Physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Online ressource

The CTERA National Survey Report titled presents an analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Argentine education workers. Conducted between May and June 2020, the study highlights how teachers adapted to remote work amid school closures, facing significant challenges to maintain educational continuity. It underscores the strain on their health and working conditions, exacerbated by prior neoliberal policies that weakened public education and labor protections.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Confederación de Trabajadores de la Educación de la República Argentina (CTERA)
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2020

Region: Latin America
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Physical health
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

The charter outlines key principles and strategies to promote mental wellbeing among school and college staff. It emphasizes the importance of creating a safe workplace, providing support from colleagues and managers, ensuring fair and equal treatment, establishing clear procedures and roles, allowing personal and social time, and conducting stress risk assessments. The charter aims to integrate mental health considerations into the culture, organization, and management of educational institutions.

Open resource in English

Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2019

Region: Europe
Topics: Mental health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Researchers
Resource type: Downloadable file

The guide was created by CTERA to empower health and safety delegates in the education sector. It outlines twelve minimum conditions necessary for the proper functioning of school buildings, established through collective bargaining. The guide emphasizes the right of workers to actively participate in ensuring safe and healthy work environments, reinforcing the importance of union involvement in monitoring and advocating for labor protections in schools.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Confederación de Trabajadores de la Educación de la República Argentina (CTERA)
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2014

Region: Latin America
Topics: Physical health Safety Working conditions
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

The STU’s guidance provides its members with essential support and resources for navigating workplace challenges in the education sector. It covers topics such as performance appraisals, school transfers, workplace safety, and legal responsibilities, and includes a grievance procedure flowchart with the affected member which unions can use as an example for their work. It also promotes proactive engagement through educational talks, which can be requested from the union, on legal obligations, disciplinary actions, and social media conduct, aiming to foster safer, fairer, and more informed working environments for teachers in Singapore.

Open resource in English

Publisher: Singapore Teachers' Union (STU)
Country: Singapore

Region: Asia Pacific
Topics: Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

This is an innovative, modular suite of 29 interactive online learning modules designed to promote a culture of health and safety in the workplace. Covering a wide range of topics from risk assessment to emergency response and workplace ergonomics, the EOSH package is accessible across devices and adaptable to various sectors and audiences. It offers customizable training solutions for employers’ organizations and other entities.

Open resource in English

Publisher: International Labour Organization (ILO)

Topics: Safety Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub Education International’s resource center

Caring for educators, caring for our communities

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Featured topics

Showing All 13 Resources

Working through the menopause

Preventing sexism & sexual harassment

The silent struggle: When teachers become the target

Heatwave: your rights, our interventions

Breastfeeding women at work

Work and suicide

INEE Minimum Standards - Standard 9: Protection and Wellbeing

Joint union heatwave protocol

CTERA national survey: "Health and working conditions of teachers in times of health emergency"

Mental health charter

Healthy and safe work: The active participation of workers is a right

Workplace concerns: Support and guidance for teachers

The New Training Package on Essentials in Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH)