Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub

Safety

Safety is a foundational component of well-being, particularly in contexts affected by crisis, conflict, or instability. Physical and psychological security is a basic human need, and its absence can severely compromise the mental and emotional health of teachers and education support personnel. This is particularly acute in regions where schools are targets of violence and wars or political unrest, where the threat to personal safety is compounded by a lack of professional development, formal certification, and adequate compensation. The psychological toll of working in emergency or conflict-affected environments highlights the urgent need for protective measures and institutional support. A secure and safe environment is also essential, as feeling protected from physical harm contributes significantly to a sense of well-being and allows both staff and students to concentrate on their roles without fear or distraction.

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Topics: Safety
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Training of trainers toolkit on the ILO violence and harassment convention (No. 190) and recommendation (No. 206)

Toolkits

The toolkit provides guidance on implementing the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190) and Recommendation (No. 206). It includes practical resources for trainers, such as facilitator guides, activities workbooks, and detailed briefings on key issues. The toolkit aims to raise awareness, encourage discussion, and support unions in developing workplace policies, integrating violence and harassment into occupational safety and health management, and campaigning for the ratification of C190. It emphasizes the importance of gender-responsive approaches and collective bargaining to create safer, more inclusive workplaces.

The resources in Arabic and Turkish can be downloaded from the resource page in English.

Open resource in English Open resource in Spanish Open resource in French
Publisher
Education International (EI)
Year of publication
2021
Topics
Safety Violence and harassment
Available in
English French Spanish, Castilian Arabic Turkish
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel
Specific communities
Women
Resource type
Downloadable file

Addressing the epidemic of trauma in schools

Research

The reportoutlines a nationwide effort to confront the growing impact of trauma on students and educators. Sparked by a leadership meeting in 2019, the report captures insights from a convening of 39 state affiliates, aiming to understand current approaches, build a shared framework, and recommend actionable steps. It emphasizes the complexity of trauma’s root causes and highlights strategies such as educator training, legislative advocacy, and community partnerships.

Download resource in English
Publisher
National Education Association (NEA) National Council of State Education Associations
Country
United States of America
Year of publication
2019
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Mental health Safety Violence and harassment
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Specific communities
Ethnic minorities
Resource type
Downloadable file

Strategies to end school-related gender-based violence: The experience of education unions in Africa

Guides

The document focuses on the pervasive issue of gender-based violence in and around educational settings, particularly in Africa. It draws on the experience of nine EI member organisations in seven African countries committed to combatting SRGBV in their contexts. The first section focuses on actions these unions have taken internally to adapt decision making structures, update policies and deploy resources to empower their members to act. The second section looks at how education unions have reached out to other stakeholders (legislators, ministries, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, parents, media and learners) to pursue coordinated strategies for change.

Open resource in English Open resource in Spanish Open resource in French
Publisher
Gender at Work Education International (EI) United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI)
Year of publication
2019
Region
Africa
Topics
Safety Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in
English French Spanish, Castilian
Resource type
Downloadable file

Risk assessment of violent and abusive behaviour

Guides

The NASUWT guide on risk assessment of violent and abusive behaviour provides essential advice for education employers on their legal duties to protect staff from violence and abuse. It outlines the procedures that schools can follow to tackle disruptive and violent behaviour, emphasizing the importance of conducting thorough risk assessments, implementing control measures, and sharing relevant information with staff. The guide also highlights the detrimental impact of violent incidents on staff wellbeing and school environments, and stresses the need for effective behaviour policies to ensure a safe and supportive workplace for both staff and pupils. The NASUWT has produced tailored guidance for members from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Open resource in English
Publisher
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2019
Region
Europe
Topics
Safety Violence and harassment
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Risk assessment of violent and abusive behaviour

Guides

The NASUWT guide on risk assessment of violent and abusive behaviour provides comprehensive advice for education employers on their legal duties to protect staff from violence and abuse. It outlines procedures for schools and colleges to tackle disruptive and violent behaviour, emphasizing the importance of conducting thorough risk assessments for pupils who display high levels of aggression. The guide highlights the significant impact of poor pupil behaviour on teachers' health and wellbeing, and stresses the need for effective behaviour policies and risk management strategies to ensure a safe and supportive working environment for educators.

Open resource in English
Publisher
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2019
Region
Europe
Topics
Safety Violence and harassment
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

Mental health and work-related stress toolkit

Toolkits

The NASUWT's Mental Health and Work-related Stress Toolkit is designed to support educators in managing and mitigating work-related stress, anxiety, and depression. It provides a comprehensive collection of resources, including links to model action plans, risk assessments, and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive, the United Kingdom’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. The toolkit emphasizes the importance of treating mental health issues as workplace hazards, requiring risk assessments and proactive measures. It also offers support for immediate help and management conversations around mental health, aiming to create a healthier work environment for teachers.

Open resource in English
Publisher
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2019
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Safety
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

On mental health through a gender lens

Opinion/commentary

Le billet de blog met en lumière l'impact significatif de la violence sur la santé mentale, en particulier pour les femmes et les enfants. Il souligne que, bien que les deux sexes subissent des violences, les femmes en sont victimes à des taux plus élevés, ce qui entraîne des défis de santé mentale à long terme. Le billet discute également du rôle des enseignant·e·s dans le soutien aux élèves affectés par la violence et de la nécessité de meilleures ressources en santé mentale dans les écoles.

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Publisher
Canadian Teachers' Federation/Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants
Country
Canada
Year of publication
2016
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Safety Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in
English French
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

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

Guides

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
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

Guide for the prevention and intervention against violence toward education staff

Guides

The resource aimed at addressing violence in educational settings, the guide provides definitions, identifies various forms of violence, and explores their causes and consequences. It offers practical strategies for prevention and intervention, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe and supportive work environment for all educational staff. The guide also outlines the legal rights and obligations related to workplace health and safety, and highlights the role of unions in supporting victims and witnesses of violence.

Download resource in French
Publisher
Centrale des syndicats du Québec Centre de recherche et d’intervention sur la réussite scolaire (CRIRES) Observatoire canadien pour la prévention de la violence à l’école (OCPVE) Groupe de recherche et d’intervention sur l’adaptation psychosociale et scolaire, UQTR (GRIAPS)
Country
Canada
Year of publication
2012
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Mental health Physical health Safety Violence and harassment
Available in
French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Downloadable file

It’s time to invest in student & educator well-being

Toolkits

This page provides a comprehensive hub of resources aimed at promoting safe, supportive, and health-conscious learning environments for both students and educators. It addresses key issues such as mental health, gun violence prevention, infection control, and healthy buildings, offering practical tools and strategies to tackle the root causes of school safety challenges.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Association (NEA)
Country
United States of America
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Safety Working conditions
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Web page

Checklist for workplace environment problems

Guides

"Checklista vid arbetsmiljöproblem": The guide from Sveriges Lärare provides a checklist for identifying and addressing workplace environment issues in educational settings. It covers various aspects such as physical conditions, psychosocial factors, and organizational aspects that can affect teachers' health and wellbeing. The checklist aims to help educators and school administrators systematically evaluate and improve their work environment to ensure a safe and supportive atmosphere for both staff and students.

Open resource in Swedish
Publisher
Swedish Teachers' Union
Country
Sweden
Region
Europe
Topics
Safety Working conditions
Available in
Swedish
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel
Resource type
Web page

Questions and answers: Violence and threats of violence

Fact sheets

"Spørsmål og svar: Vold og trusler om vold": The page from the union Utdanningsforbundet provides information on violence and threats in the workplace. It defines various types of violence, including physical, psychological, and sexual, and outlines the responsibilities of employers to assess risks, provide necessary training, and implement preventive measures.

Open resource in Norwegian
Publisher
Union of Education Norway (UEN)
Country
Norway
Region
Europe
Topics
Physical health Safety Violence and harassment
Available in
Norwegian
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Web page