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 6 January 2021

    Argentina: Educator unions involved in successful push towards legalisation of abortion

    Education International’s Argentinian affiliates, together with their trade union centres, were part of a women’s cross-sectoral/political/social network, which actively campaigned for the national Parliament to adopt a law legalising abortion.

    Argentina: Educator unions involved in successful push towards legalisation of abortion
  2. News 18 December 2020

    Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education unionists highlight the need for collegial and professional support in public education

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the Australian Education Union (AEU) experience little or no employer-provided collegial and professional support across the public education system. Instead, they draw on opportunities to meet other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers and workers in the education and training industry. Many of...

    Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education unionists highlight the need for collegial and professional support in public education
  3. Statements 18 December 2020

    Statement | International Migrants Day: realising the rights of migrants

    As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families and near the end of an exceptional year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Education International calls on governments to protect and respect the human rights of all...

    Statement | International Migrants Day: realising the rights of migrants
  4. Worlds of Education 10 December 2020

    #16dayscampaign | “When teachers’ unions take action, schools become safer for everyone”, by madeleine kennedy-macfoy (EI) and Rex Fyles (Gender at Work).

    Rex Fyles, madeleine kennedy macfoy

    Gender-based violence in and around schools poses big challenges to education unions and their members. Because everyone in and around schools – teachers, students, education support personnel - can be both perpetrator and victim of such violence, school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) is a violation of both the right to quality...

    #16dayscampaign | “When teachers’ unions take action, schools become safer for everyone”, by madeleine kennedy-macfoy (EI) and Rex Fyles (Gender at Work).
  5. News 10 December 2020

    Malaysia: Union solidarity for remote education for marginalised students

    Education International has joined the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) to support Malaysian students from poor and marginalised communities to access online classes crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Malaysia: Union solidarity for remote education for marginalised students
  6. Video

    Educators are mobilising for the rights of migrants and refugees. Join us!

    9 December 2020
  7. Worlds of Education 4 December 2020

    #16dayscampaign | “Mobilising the community to prevent school dropout among girls following COVID-19 school closures”, by Joan Aja (UNATU, Uganda).

    Joan Aja

    Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) is implementing a girl child education project called Simameni Project supported by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation and funded by Global Affairs Canada. The five-year project is intended to increase girls’ access to secondary school education, and to ensure retention and completion. The project has a...

    #16dayscampaign | “Mobilising the community to prevent school dropout among girls following COVID-19 school closures”, by Joan Aja (UNATU, Uganda).
  8. News 3 December 2020

    Africa: Teacher unions continue to fight child labour despite Covid-pandemic

    As the Covid-19 crisis poses a threat to achievements made to get children into school and out of work, an online webinar has brought together unionists and experts to strengthen strategies and allow teachers to continue helping students.

    Africa: Teacher unions continue to fight child labour despite Covid-pandemic
  9. Publications

    Auditing Educational Equity in Light of the Covid-19 Pandemic

    A Guide for Education Unions
    3 December 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented school closures that have affected over 1.5 billion students worldwide. However, the impact of the pandemic has not been equal, with vulnerable and disadvantaged students disproportionately affected by the resulting global crisis in teaching and learning.

    Auditing Educational Equity in Light of the Covid-19 Pandemic
    1. Auditing Educational Equity in Light of the Covid-19 Pandemic
    2. التدقيق بمبادئ العدالة ال ت بوية في ظل جائحة كوفيد- 91 دليل خاص بنقابات التعليم
    3. Guia: Auditoria da equidade na educação durantea pandemia da Covid-19
  10. Statements 3 December 2020

    Statement | International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Investing in education staff is crucial to delivering inclusive education Post COVID-19

    A recent study commissioned by Education International, Action Aid International and Light for the World stresses the importance of well-trained and qualified teachers and education support personnel as the bedrock of inclusion. Today, Education International calls for educational equity audits in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and releases a guide...

    Statement | International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Investing in education staff is crucial to delivering inclusive education Post COVID-19
  11. Worlds of Education 1 December 2020

    #16dayscampaign | "Gender-Based Violence in Paraguay: The Other Pandemic", by Paola Giménez (OTEP AUTÉNTICA).

    Paola Giménez

    Within the framework of a profoundly sexist culture, the phenomenon of gender-based violence is linked to violence against women, children and adolescents, particularly those from the poorest sectors of society and those belonging to indigenous communities. Paraguay has one of the highest rates of child sexual abuse in South America:...

    #16dayscampaign | "Gender-Based Violence in Paraguay: The Other Pandemic", by Paola Giménez (OTEP AUTÉNTICA).
  12. Worlds of Education 25 November 2020

    #16dayscampaign | “Union Responses to Increased Gender-based Violence during Covid-related Lockdowns in Kenya”, by Alice Tuei (KNUT).

    Alice Tuei

    In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the closure of learning institutions and other measures undertaken by the Kenyan Government to prevent transmission within communities and families, cases of gender-based violence (GBV) increased drastically within the communities.

    #16dayscampaign | “Union Responses to Increased Gender-based Violence during Covid-related Lockdowns in Kenya”, by Alice Tuei (KNUT).
  13. Worlds of Education 9 November 2020

    “What about Convention No. 190 in Tunisia? Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work”, by Emna Aouadi.

    Emna Aouadi

    In June 2019, the ILO adopted Convention 190 concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. Unions have long called for an instrument of this nature. We welcome the adoption of this Convention.

    “What about Convention No. 190 in Tunisia? Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work”, by Emna Aouadi.
  14. Statements 5 November 2020

    Statement | Education International Welcomes the First International Day against Violence and Bullying at School including Cyberbullying

    No child should be afraid to go to school. But with one in three children bullied at school at least once in the last month, our education systems are failing students. The consequences are severe and far-reaching for individual students and for societies as a whole. To address this issue,...

    Statement | Education International Welcomes the First International Day against Violence and Bullying at School including Cyberbullying
  15. Statements 29 October 2020

    Statement | Global Day of Action for Care

    Unions and civil society mobilising to demand investments in care for building more inclusive, accessible, resilient, and caring economies.

    Statement | Global Day of Action for Care
  16. Research

    Teaching with Tech: The role of education unions in shaping the future

    Christina J. Colclough
    27 October 2020

    The Future of Work is not just making the headlines - it has become an issue of increasing importance for students, teachers and the whole of society. While there is always an element of anticipatory anxiety when facing the future there has also been real concern about the arrival of...

    Teaching with Tech: The role of education unions in shaping the future
    1. Report
    2. Summary