Ei-iE

Leading the profession

Teachers and education support personnel know what works in education. They must be recognised and empowered to deliver on the promise of quality education for all.

At the classroom level, academic freedom and professional autonomy are prerequisites for quality teaching and learning. As professionals, teachers must be afforded the space and trust to make the best possible decisions for their students.

Beyond the classroom, education policy must be informed by the vast experience and insights only education professionals can provide. We advocate for the involvement of teachers, education support personnel and their representative organisations in all decision-making in education and work towards the expansion of sectoral policy dialogue at all levels and in all countries.

Our work in this area

  1. 22 December 2009

    Education unions fighting the economic crisis: It’s time for a global and local strategy!

    Whatever good or bad news we may hear about the crisis in the media, education is still suffering from measures taken since the onset of the global financial and economic crisis. This has an impact on teachers and education unions at all levels of education.

    Education unions fighting the economic crisis: It’s time for a global and local strategy!
  2. News 18 December 2009

    New 6-month special programme for trade unionists at the Global Labour University now open for application

    As a Global Union, EI is committed to support the Global Labour University. The Global Labour University is created by the Global Union Research Network (GURN), comprising the ILO's Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD...

    New 6-month special programme for trade unionists at the Global Labour University now open for application
  6. News 20 November 2009

    Action Aid and EI launch teachers’ toolkit on education financing

    In these times of economic crisis, when governments and financial institutions are focused on drastic public spending cuts, it is all the more important that teachers and their unions develop the skills and knowledge to successfully advocate for public investment in quality education.

    Action Aid and EI launch teachers’ toolkit on education financing
  7. 3 November 2009

    IMF Head : "The crisis is not over"

    EI joined ITUC and Italian trade unions meeting IMF Head Dominique Strauss-Kahn in Rome. Strauss-Kahn stressed "the crisis is not over", recognized the issue of IMF conditionalities, and announced a new IMF study on how to tax international financial transactions.

    IMF Head : "The crisis is not over"
  9. 5 October 2009

    World Teachers’ Day: "Build the future: Invest in teachers now!"

    In the face of the global economic crisis, it is vitally important that governments invest significantly in public education, making it a cornerstone of economic recovery plans. Education International, the global union federation representing 30 million teachers around the world, is appealing to the international community to take urgent action...

    World Teachers’ Day: "Build the future: Invest in teachers now!"
  10. 1 October 2009

    EI: “We must redouble our efforts”

    EI welcomed the commitments made in Pittsburgh last week to put “quality jobs at the heart of the recovery” and “to strengthen support for the most vulnerable”.

    EI: “We must redouble our efforts”
  11. News 1 October 2009

    EI General Secretary at the 6th Asia-Pacific conference: a coherent combination of global strategy and local actions is needed to reduce the impact of the crisis

    Education International’s sixth Asia-Pacific Regional Conference finished today in Bangkok after three days of debates on a variety of problems confronting the teaching profession in the organisation’s largest region.

    EI General Secretary at the 6th Asia-Pacific conference: a coherent combination of global strategy and local actions is needed to reduce the impact of the crisis
  12. 1 October 2009

    Keynote address by Fred van Leeuwen, EI General Secretary, at the 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference held in Bangkok from 28-30 September 2009

    Below is the keynote address by Fred van Leeuwen, EI General Secretary, at the 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference held in Bangkok from 28-30 September 2009. The title of the conference is "Asia-Pacific Teacher Organisations’ Response to the Global Crises".

    Keynote address by Fred van Leeuwen, EI General Secretary, at the 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference held in Bangkok from 28-30 September 2009
  13. News 30 September 2009

    G20 stresses quality jobs for recovery, but conveys narrow vision of education

    Education International welcomes the commitments made in Pittsburgh to put “quality jobs at the heart of the recovery” and “to strengthen support for the most vulnerable.” G20 announcements of more coordinated measures for recovery and growth, stronger financial regulation, and a role for the ILO all go in the right...

    G20 stresses quality jobs for recovery, but conveys narrow vision of education
  14. 28 September 2009

    G20 : They were singing our song

    G20 Leaders responded to labour and civil society. They were “singing our song”. Now comes the hard part – getting governments to follow through

    G20 : They were singing our song
  15. 22 September 2009

    G20 Pittsburgh – the recovery summit?

    Will the G20 Leaders meeting in Pittsburgh this week agree on the coordinated action need for global recovery? Some positive signs from leaked letters and public statements. But will these signs be translated into real action?

    G20 Pittsburgh – the recovery summit?
  16. News 10 September 2009

    Greater public funding for education is essential for economic recovery

    Public investment in education must be significantly increased to meet growing enrolment demands and to confront the worldwide economic crisis, according to Education International, the global union federation representing 30 million teachers and education workers in 172 countries.

    Greater public funding for education is essential for economic recovery
  18. 2 September 2009

    Opening Address by Fred van Leeuwen, EI General Secretary, at the High Level Seminar on the impact of the economic crisis on education in central and eastern Europe in Warsaw, 2-4 September 2009

    Below is the opening address by EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, at the High Level Seminar on the impact of the economic crisis on education in central and eastern Europe in Warsaw from 2-4 September 2009.

    Opening Address by Fred van Leeuwen, EI General Secretary, at the High Level Seminar on the impact of the economic crisis on education in central and eastern Europe in Warsaw, 2-4 September 2009