Ei-iE

Jens Kalaene
Jens Kalaene

Equity and inclusion

We defend and promote the principles of equity and equality in education, in education unions and in society. We are fully committed to combating all forms of racism and of bias or discrimination due age, disability, ethnicity or indigeneity, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, language, marital status, migratory status, political activism, religion, socio-economic status, trade union affiliation, among others. We are committed to addressing these forms of discrimination through an intersectional lens, which enables a deeper understanding of the complexities of lived experiences.

I think Education International has a leadership role to play… If we’re going to have a more civil society, a more inclusive society, then we have to model that by including men but women as well, people of different ethnic groups or religious backgrounds. All of us have to be involved and be at the table and have that kind of respect.

Professor Mary Hatwood Futrell, First elected EI President, 1993–2004

Promoting and advancing gender equality has always been an Education International priority. We believe that education can play a key role in empowering women and girls and can contribute to breaking through the cycle of gender discrimination. The Education International Gender Equality Action Plan highlights three main priorities:

  1. Promoting women’s leadership and participation within education unions;
  2. Taking action to increase intersectional gender equality in and through education;
  3. Promoting and securing women’s economic empowerment.

The unequal and gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic risks erasing years of progress on equity and inclusion throughout the world. Together with our member organisations, we mobilise to challenge and help dismantle all structures of inequality in education and beyond. As part of this work, we have called for equity audits to be conducted at all levels of education in order to ensure the pandemic does not define the lives of an entire generation of students.

Our work in this area

  1. News 22 November 2012

    EI calls for a rights-based approach to migration

    EI joined forces with other global unions to call for a rights-based approach to the governance and management of migration. This call was made at the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), held in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 19 to 22 November 2012.

    EI calls for a rights-based approach to migration
  2. News 11 October 2012

    EI advocates for the rights of girls

    The International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated annually from this year on October 11th, is an opportunity for EI and teachers’ unions to harness their advocacy and programmatic work to enhance the rights of the girl child.

    EI advocates for the rights of girls
  3. News 4 October 2012

    Aob/GEW/EI Conference: combatting child labour through the right to education

    Strengthening the teacher unions’ role in combatting child labour and achieving Education For All is the aim of the International Conference on Child Labour, convened by EI and GEW, a teacher union in Germany and AOb from the Netherlands, on 5-7 October 2012 in Berlin, Germany.

    Aob/GEW/EI Conference: combatting child labour through the right to education
  4. News 2 October 2012

    Costa Rica: public policy on Indigenous education needed

    Costa Rican Indigenous peoples have analysed the state and quality of education provided to Indigenous children, adolescents, and youth in the national meeting of Indigenous teachers and leaders, held in San José, from 25-26 September. The Asociación Nacional de Educadores (ANDE), one of EI’s national affiliates, participated in the discussions.

    Costa Rica: public policy on Indigenous education needed
  5. News 24 September 2012

    UNCSW

    Jim Baker
    UNCSW
  6. News 24 September 2012

    Tom Bediako

    Jim Baker
    Tom Bediako
  7. News 18 September 2012

    EFA must include marginalised boys and girls trapped in labour

    EI has reacted to an article published in World Education Blog, hosted by the Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report team, which declares that “improving teaching and learning is crucial, especially for the marginalised.” It reiterates that the EFA goals will not be achieved unless child labour is eradicated...

    EFA must include marginalised boys and girls trapped in labour
  8. News 6 September 2012

    Iran: education union defends gender equity in access to university

    EI’s affiliate, the Cooperative Council of Iranian Teachers Trade Associations, CCITTA, has condemned the new Iranian legislation denying female students access to higher education.

    Iran: education union defends gender equity in access to university
  9. News 9 August 2012

    Empowering Indigenous Voices

    On 9 August, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, EI reaffirms the rights of indigenous children to universal quality education at all levels.

    Empowering Indigenous Voices
  10. News 26 July 2012

    Arab countries work towards gender equality

    EI affiliates from 11 Arab countries participated in the first meeting of the EI Arab Women’s Network (AWN) to initiate strategies to empower women teachers and increase their unionisation across the region.

    Arab countries work towards gender equality
  11. News 24 July 2012

    From the fields to the classrooms: Child Labour Conference

    EI member organisations will address links between child labour and poor access to quality education at the International Conference on Child Labour in Agriculture from 28-30 July in Washington, USA.

    From the fields to the classrooms: Child Labour Conference
  12. News 17 July 2012

    US Secretary of State calls for workers’ and women’s rights

    Supporting workers’ rights and women’s rights would help to ensure a more just global economy. That’s according to US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who addressed a Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy Dialogue in Cambodia on 12-13 July.

    US Secretary of State calls for workers’ and women’s rights
  13. News 13 July 2012

    Canada: Deficit is not an excuse for underfunding Aboriginal education

    Former Prime Minister Paul Martin has delivered a keynote address at the Canada Teachers’ Federation (CTF) Annual General Meeting held under the theme, “Teacher organisations: charting the course for democracy,” from 11-13 July in Halifa, Nova Scotia.

    Canada: Deficit is not an excuse for underfunding Aboriginal education
  14. News 2 July 2012

    EI Regional Committee condemns dismissal of Paraguay's President

    In a statement released on 22 June, the EI Regional Committee for Latin America called on EI affiliates to stand in solidarity with the democratically elected government in Paraguay and its people and to express their strong condemnation of the unlawful deposition of Paraguay´s President.

    EI Regional Committee condemns dismissal of Paraguay's President
  15. News 11 June 2012

    On 12 June, speak out against child labour in schools and unions!

    EI and its member organisations commemorate World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June. 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the World Day which, every year, provides an opportunity to shed light on the scope of child labour on a world scale, as well as raise awareness among teachers and...

    On 12 June, speak out against child labour in schools and unions!