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. Research

    Privatisation in early childhood education - An explorative study on impacts and implications

    Mathias Urban
    16 October 2014

    This explorative study reveals a global trend towards increasing privatisation in Early Childhood Education (ECE), threatening to overshadow public ECE. Based on a qualitative inquiry targeting ECE practitioners and union representatives in 14 countries, it gathers practice-based evidence of the impact of privatisation in ECE on a variety of aspects...

    Privatisation in early childhood education - An explorative study on impacts and implications
    1. Download
  2. News 10 October 2014

    USA: LGBT people pay an ‘unfair price’

    Education International (EI) welcomes a landmark report which provides a stark picture of the added financial burdens faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in United States because of discriminatory laws.

    USA: LGBT people pay an ‘unfair price’
  3. News 29 September 2014

    EI seeks your feedback on Gender Equality and Diversity

    Education International (EI) is calling on its affiliates to have their voices heard in relation to equality and diversity. On 16 September, affiliates were sent EI’s survey on gender equality and diversity. The feedback, due in on 31 October, will provide the basis for EI’s four-yearly report on equality to...

    EI seeks your feedback on Gender Equality and Diversity
  4. News 10 September 2014

    Malaysia: Gender equity crucial to quality education

    Promoting gender equality in unions, education, and society was the central theme at a recent workshop in Malaysia hosted by the Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU).

    Malaysia: Gender equity crucial to quality education
  5. News 9 September 2014

    Bolivia: New child labour law leaves children exposed

    In the face of international conventions protecting children from exploitation, Bolivia’s new labour law seeks to regulate rather than eliminate the practice.

    Bolivia: New child labour law leaves children exposed
  6. News 8 September 2014

    Coming Up: ETUCE Conference on teacher union actions on gender equality in times of austerity

    The closing conference of the ETUCE project Promoting gender equality within teacher trade unions and in the teaching profession II – Implementing and reinforcing teacher trade union actions on gender equality in times of austerity convenes in Sofia on 25 and 26 September 2014.

    Coming Up: ETUCE Conference on teacher union actions on gender equality in times of austerity
  7. News 31 July 2014

    Australia: Less equality for indigenous students and teachers

    Universities in Australia are still far from granting equal opportunities to Indigenous students and staff, while indigenous programmes are under threat, according to Celeste Liddle, member and Indigenous Organiser at the Australian National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU). ‘Cuts to funding and the lack of inclusive spaces within universities are hampering...

    Australia: Less equality for indigenous students and teachers
  8. News 7 July 2014

    Locked out: Privatised education leaves girls and women behind

    A new global report shows that girls and women are suffering the consequences of rising privatised education around the world, leaving them on the outside of the classroom looking in.

    Locked out: Privatised education leaves girls and women behind
  9. News 7 July 2014

    Locked out: Privatised education leaves girls and women behind

    A new global report shows that girls and women are suffering the consequences of rising privatised education around the world, leaving them on the outside of the classroom looking in.

    Locked out: Privatised education leaves girls and women behind
  10. News 1 July 2014

    Fiji Teachers Union tackles child labour with education

    The World Day Against Child Labour threw the spotlight on Fiji, where collective efforts between unions and the International Labour Organization are aiming to use quality education to curb the country’s growing problem.

    Fiji Teachers Union tackles child labour with education
  11. Publications

    Ending child labour - a resource manual for teachers and education unions

    19 June 2014

    Child labour remains a human rights scourge more than a decade into the 21st century, affecting 168 million children worldwide by the best estimates. It denies millions of children their basic rights to education and childhood, permanently scarring their lives and their future as productive adults and citizens, those of...

    Ending child labour - a resource manual for teachers and education unions
    1. Download
  12. News 16 June 2014

    Conference on homophobic and Transphobic School bullying in Europe

    On 10 and 11 June 2914, European stakeholders in the field of education and discrimination prevention convened in Athens to exchange good practices and identify barriers and challenges concerning the prevention of bullying in schools, in particular on grounds of homophobia and transphobia.

    Conference on homophobic and Transphobic School bullying in Europe
  13. News 12 June 2014

    World Day against Child Labour: new EI resource manual for teachers

    Every year, Education International (EI) marks the World Day against Child Labour (WDACL) on 12 June to encourage education unions to organise public activities showing the commitment of teachers and education support personnel to eradicating child labour, and promote quality public education for all children.

    World Day against Child Labour: new EI resource manual for teachers
  14. News 3 June 2014

    India: Women’s network plan ahead

    A South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) women’s network planning meeting was organised recently by the EI Asia-Pacific regional office, together with two affiliates, the All India Federation of Teachers’ Organisation (AIFTO) and Lärarförbundet from Sweden.

    India: Women’s network plan ahead
  15. Research

    Getting teacher migration and mobility right

    Marie-Louise Caravatti, Shannon Lederer, Allison Lupico, Nancy Van Meter
    31 May 2014

    With this study EI aims to identify best practices for international teacher migration, as well as to highlight issues of concern and expose abuses. This research report contributes new data and analysis that will deepen our understanding of the teacher migration phenomenon. It reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that migration...

    Getting teacher migration and mobility right
    1. Download
  16. News 30 May 2014

    USA: Yearbook controversy highlights challenges of inclusive schools

    EI has strongly condemned the fact that 18-year-old Jessica Urbina, who wore a stylist tuxedo in her high school portrait, was told by school officials that her picture would not appear in her class yearbook due to the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s rule that girls must appear in dresses for...

    USA: Yearbook controversy highlights challenges of inclusive schools