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 18 March 2024

    Regional Women’s Networks: Strengthening Solidarity and Equality

    The critical role of regional women’s networks in fostering solidarity and addressing gender issues within unions, the education sector, and society was underscored in a recent virtual event hosted by Education International (EI). Participants from across the globe convened to explore the joint efforts of EI members and regional offices...

    Regional Women’s Networks: Strengthening Solidarity and Equality
  2. Worlds of Education 15 March 2024

    Teachers: key in keeping boys engaged in school and learning

    Matthias Eck

    Even though tremendous progress in enrolment has been made over the last 20 years, current estimates indicate that 250 million children and youth are still out of school. And over half of them – approximately 128 million – are boys.

    Teachers: key in keeping boys engaged in school and learning
  3. News 13 March 2024

    Education unionists call for free quality public education to help end poverty for women and girls in all their diversity

    The 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women takes place in New York from March 11th to the 22nd. The Commission is the most important global forum that works to advance gender equality and women’s rights and conditions, globally. A delegation of 17 women education...

    Education unionists call for free quality public education to help end poverty for women and girls in all their diversity
  4. Worlds of Education 7 March 2024

    Our fight for education is a fight for women’s rights

    Susan Hopgood

    The right to education means that every child must have access to free quality education, a well-supported, qualified teacher, and a quality learning environment no matter where they live or come from, no matter their gender, ethnicity, or how much their family earns. This is our mission as education unions...

    Our fight for education is a fight for women’s rights
  5. News 26 January 2024

    Educators ready to play an active role in transforming education in North America and the Caribbean

    “Our activities here together these next few days are varied, but our purpose is fundamental – to reflect and learn from each other and to plan ways to encourage our members to play an active role in transforming education across this vast and varied region.” This was the call by...

    Educators ready to play an active role in transforming education in North America and the Caribbean
  6. Publications

    Gender, education, and a global view on the ‘crisis of care’

    Saba Joshi
    20 December 2023

    This policy brief focuses on the significance of care work in the global economy and the complexities of measuring its value, given its unpaid, invisible facets and the gendered nature of these forms of work. We seek to highlight the challenges educational professionals currently face and emphasize how the dynamics...

    Gender, education, and a global view on the ‘crisis of care’
    1. Download
  7. News 18 December 2023

    Analysing the Challenges Faced by Afghan Teachers

    In 2022, Education International (EI) took a significant step to champion the rights of Afghan teachers with the launch of the Afghan Teacher's Rights Observatory . This dedicated platform was created to document the situation of education in Afghanistan, addressing critical aspects such as teachers' salaries, working conditions, human rights...

    Analysing the Challenges Faced by Afghan Teachers
  8. Worlds of Education 8 December 2023

    Fossil fuel subsidies and educational performance

    Zeynep Clulow

    Around the world, companies, NGOs, policymakers, academics and national publics are increasingly calling on governments to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies (FS) - measures that support the consumption and production of natural gas, coal and oil – as a vital step for combatting climate change and building a more just and...

    Fossil fuel subsidies and educational performance
  9. Worlds of Education 7 December 2023

    PISA global survey: Investing in teachers and education systems helped mitigate the impact of Covid

    John Bangs

    Delayed by a year because of Covid, the OECD’s PISA is back, with a major focus on the impact of the pandemic on schools. Used as a benchmark by governments to evaluate their education systems, this latest version of PISA , the Program for International Student Assessment, is the most...

    PISA global survey: Investing in teachers and education systems helped mitigate the impact of Covid
  10. Worlds of Education 29 November 2023

    Invest in the future: Fund early childhood education

    Ezurike Chidubem Precious

    Based on my experience as a teacher in the sector, I can testify to the transformative power of quality early childhood education (ECE) for children. ECE goes beyond learning letters of the alphabet or numbers. Playing games and enjoying nature outdoors are equally important for children, nurturing creativity and building...

    Invest in the future: Fund early childhood education
  11. Worlds of Education 25 November 2023

    Education and schools are key to end gender-based violence

    Isma Benboulerbah

    According to the Violence Against Women & Girls Guide , developed by the World Bank, 818 million women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner. This is almost the total population of sub-Saharan Africa. On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence...

    Education and schools are key to end gender-based violence
  12. News 22 November 2023

    South African President Ramaphosa: Investing in education builds resilience in times of crises

    “It is a real privilege to address this 10th Africa Regional Conference of Education International, particularly with its focus on shaping the future of education on our continent, as well as beyond. And the theme of your conference, 'Standing together for resilient education systems in times of crises', resonates very...

    South African President Ramaphosa: Investing in education builds resilience in times of crises
  13. News 13 November 2023

    Norway: Quality education, international solidarity, and addressing the teacher shortage are imperatives for unionists around the world

    In his final official speech as President of the Union of Education Norway (UEN), Steffen Handal, also a member of Education International (EI) Executive Board, reflected on educational realities in his country and around the world: “Never has the shortage of teachers been more pressing than now! Never have more...

    Norway: Quality education, international solidarity, and addressing the teacher shortage are imperatives for unionists around the world
  14. Publications

    Copyright limitations and exceptions for the use of digital materials in teaching and learning environments

    Policy brief
    7 November 2023

    The policy brief examines a broad range of empirical data and reveals the urgent need to intervene on current copyright laws to respond to teachers’ needs regarding access to and use of digital materials in the physical and online environments. It includes key recommendations that aim to enhance current international...

    Copyright limitations and exceptions for the use of digital materials in teaching and learning environments
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  15. News 3 November 2023

    Decolonising education unions’ development cooperation projects

    How to avoid unbalanced relationships between unions engaged in development cooperation (DC) projects? This is the key question DC partners belonging to Education International (EI) member organisations set upon answering during an online meeting held on 20 October. Participants gave examples of projects they were involved in, concrete measures they...

    Decolonising education unions’ development cooperation projects