Summary
 
Ninth Executive Board
Development Cooperation
Regions
Education
World Teachers' Day
International
Human and Trade Union Rights
Secretariat
Publications

Preparing the Second Education International World Congress

Preparations are well underway for the Second EI World Congress convened for 24-28 July 1998 in Washington D.C. (USA). The last meeting of the Executive Board adopted the programme and agenda, and examined proposals for discussion themes for the round tables (see last Monitor). Education: Building the 21st Century was confirmed as the general theme of the Congress.

The members of the Board approved, amended and proposed resolutions to be presented to the World Congress on topics such as the protection of the rights of lesbian and gay education personnel, environmentally sustainable development, the World Trade Organisation and globalisation of the economy, higher education, the girl child, child labour, the rights of indigenous peoples, and others (information revolution, medias in education, education to the environment, etc), including some updating of policies adopted in Harare (Ex: on neoliberalism, the World Bank, teacher education, higher education).

The Executive Board resolutions to Congress also include amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws regarding a series of advisory bodies,  a revised Development Cooperation policy and a new membership dues structure. All these recommendations and those received from affiliates in due time, as well as all policy documents mentioned here, will be sent beforehand to congress participants. Other items were also covered: membership applications (see p. 3), relations with independent (sub)regional bodies and special interest groups of education unions, and the conclusions of the Finance Committee. Nominations for the EI Awards were examined and the laureates will be honoured in Washington D.C.

The General Secretary presented the January 1997 - October 1997 Progress Report, a comprehensive overview of EI's international and regional activities with specific proposals for activities in 1998: special missions to Africa, preparation of a conference on vocational education and partnership (for the year 2000), active EI participation in UNESCO's 1998 Higher Education Conference, and next World Teachers' Day media events. Detailed reports from committees, conferences, missions, campaigns, were appended. As a regular feature in Executive Board meetings, closer attention was given to developments in selected regions; this time, Asia-Pacific and Europe were featured through presentations by their respective coordinators.

Last but not least, a draft program and budget for the period 1999-2001 received the approval of the Board and the final text will be forwarded to the delegations of the triennial congress, which promises to be most interesting. Next Executive Board meeting: 25-27 March 1998.


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Consultative meeting on Development Cooperation examines new policy document

The annual meeting of EI cooperating organisations and staff was held in Brussels 11-12 September 1997 (see Monitor Vol 4 No 1 for previous year report). A draft guide for project presentation and implementation was presented as a general framework for the partners involved, since national rules and regulations apply in each country. Emphasis is put on a transparent partnership, effectiveness and clarity. One of the priorities is the strengthening of organisations at the grassroots level. Efforts in this direction  have already been made; specific meetings on regional situations (for example Francophone Africa) took place in order to face increasing problems of various kinds and to attempt to bring about a coherent policy. Following written remarks sent by affiliates and comments made by the participants, a revised version of the new policy document entitled For a transparent and constructive partnership was adopted by the Executive Board for presentation to the Congress. [More information on Development Cooperation programs in various regions is available on EI's Internet site.]

The EI Solidarity Fund was also on the agenda. As specified in Article 29 of our By-Laws, all affiliates are invited to contribute to this fund according to their means and are requested to renew their contribution on an annual basis. Many urgent requests are directed to EI every year for humanitarian assistance, relief aid or other crisis situations and the Secretariat would like to coordinate the use of these funds, on behalf of all the affiliates, in the best possible way.


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More teachers from Africa, Europe and Latin America join Education International

At its last meeting, the Executive Board admitted seven new organisations. Welcome to:
• Sindicato Nacional de Professores (SINPROF), Angola
• Trade Union of Kindergarten Employees of Croatia (TUKEC), Croatia
• Trade Union of Workers in Pre-School Education of Croatia (TUWPSEC), Croatia
• Syndicat des enseignants du premier degré (SEP), Djibouti
• Collegio Profesional 'Union Magisteral' (COPRUM), Honduras
• CISL-Scuola, Italy; (replaces SINASCEL-CISL & SISM-CISL)
• Fédération des syndicats de l'éducation nationale (FESEN), Togo; (replaces SELT, SYNEDDTO , SEPT)

The Executive Board of the European Trade Union Committee for Education ( ETUCE) met in Brussels on 6/7 October 1997. ETUCE is responsible for representing teachers in relation to the European Union and the European Free Trade Association and 95% of its membership comes from EI member unions.

The ETUCE Board expressed concern at the effects on young people of unemployment and social exclusion. It declared its support for and involvement in the forum and demonstration planned by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in Luxembourg on 20 November 1997, on the occasion of the EU Summit on Employment.

Before the next meeting of the ETUCE Board and the EI European Regional Committee in December 1997, the Joint Officers will produce proposals for coordinated future work, to implement the Action Plans agreed in Conferences in June. These will include a structure for work on vocational education and the scope of equal opportunities activities. The ETUCE Board agreed to continued work on the question of violence in schools, a subject which is causing increasing concern in society and within the teaching community.
 

"Funding and decentralisation of education systems in Central and Eastern Europe" will be the general theme of a round table to be held 24-26 November 1997 in Budapest, Hungary. The meeting will focus on the main concerns of member unions in this European sub-region: decentralisation and privatisation and consequences; implementation of partnership policies; adaptation to new economic, social and cultural realities; similarities and differences between Central & Eastern European education systems and those of the European Union. The working languages will be English, French and Hungarian. A similar conference dedicated to our colleagues from countries in transition was organised in Sofia (Bulgaria) in 1996.

In the wake of the 1995 EI Global conference on School Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention held in Harare, Education International has planned regional conferences in Latin America (1996), Asia-Pacific (1997) and Africa (1998). The next event in this series will take place 27-29 November 1997 in the Hungarian capital, Budapest. Representatives of local EI organisations in Central and Eastern Europe have been invited to attend a two-day seminar following the Round Table on Education (see above). The following issues will be addressed: promoting health through schools; statistics on HIV/AIDS in the region; HIV/AIDS prevention in the context of cultural norms, education and health goals; assessing national plans; identifying and introducing curricula to prevent infection and related discrimination. 

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World Teachers' Day 1997 finds teachers on the front line in many countries

Education International's strategy this year consisted in involving more member unions to reach a wider audience within and outside our ranks, particularly in those countries where World Teachers' Day does not get sufficient attention.
EI's efforts focused on the production, distribution (400 cassettes), and promotion of the EI/UNESCO videos Teachers make the Difference. Affiliates were invited to contact local television broadcasters to air this documentary as well as a special WTD presentation carried by the Eutelsat II satellite. Other WTD productions (some in cooperation with UNESCO) included 10,000 poster/leaflets, multilingual video scripts, the 'Media Handbook', and 'Portraits in Courage: Teachers in Difficult Circumstances'; French International network TV5 and Euronews broadcast reportages on five of these teachers. This material can still be used on any occasion with your members, parents, administrators or wider audiences. Member organisations are also invited to ask their governmental authorities or postal administrations to issue commemorative stamps for WTD by the year 2000.

An evaluation will be made by EI with its affiliates before starting preparations for the fifth WTD in 1998. So far, we have received positive information or reports from about 20 countries: Haïti, Eritrea, Canada (Québec), Trinidad & Tobago, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Albania, Mongolia, Russia, Luxembourg, Niger, Central African Republic, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Moldova, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, Uruguay, Ghana where a wide range of activities had been organised. Your reports, publications, comments, suggestions are welcome.
 

As agreed in December 1996 (see Monitor Vol 4 No 3), the vocational education and training sectoral committee worked on the basis of draft papers prepared by members for its second annual meeting held 26-27 May 1997 in Offenbach, Germany. In addition to a presentation of the Germanic dual system of vocational education and training and visits of training centers, discussions covered a wide range of issues such as a Transnational Transaction Tax, new technologies, standards and quality, life-long learning, funding, education reform, partnerships, education for all, privatisation vs public services, structural adjustment, etc. The participants examined areas where and means by which teacher unions can influence and implement education reform. They identified new technologies, structural adjustment and budget cuts as three key factors having an impact on quality schooling. Final reports on the three topics suggested by the Executive Board for the 1995-1998 period (financing, reform and quality of education) will be prepared and reviewed by committee members. The up-date of the various country studies made by the previous Committee will be continued. Future developments will be examined at the last meeting before the World Congress, 25-26 February 1998 in Brussels.

Earlier in the year (25-26 April 1997 - Brussels, Belgium), EI also held a seminar on vocational education and training attended by 21 delegates from 18 organisations in 14 Eastern and Central European countries. The participants reported on their present situation, were informed of EI's and ETUCE's work and put forward concrete ideas for actions and activities.
 

Changing Education Systems: new issues, new strategies, new policies will be the focus of a meeting for leaders from Education International affiliates in industrialized countries (OECD Zone) to take place 2, 3 and 4 February 1998 in Madrid, Spain. This gathering, a follow-up to the 1996 Florida Round Table (see Monitor Vol 4 Nos 1 & 3), will allow informal talks and exchanges of experiences about the context of present education reforms. Guests speakers will also be invited to make presentations on the general theme. The working languages will be English, French and Spanish. Organisations concerned must return the application form (which they have already received) by 30 November 1997 at the latest.

Fifth International Conference on Adult Education examines future challenges

Education International and nine of its member organisations were represented at the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA V) held in Hamburg, Germany, from 14 to 18 July 1997. Several critical questions were raised during this Conference such as: the proposal of "one hour per day for learning"; the reference to the Delors report proposal of "6% of GNP for education"; the role of the State; the right of workers to take study leave; recognition of trade unions and social partners; working conditions for educators in women's and adult education; the rights of indigenous peoples; ethnic minorities and migrants, and the role of NGOs within the framework of the concept of "life-long learning".

Adult education can be seen as a "frontier area' where many ideas, structures and methods in the field of education are tested. Future challenges have to be discussed within EI such as:

a) the kind of relationship required between non-formal and formal education;
b) the role of NGOs, communities, the private sector and the state;
c) the influence of modern technologies on traditional teaching methods;
d) the relationship between adult education and traditional educational institutions.
The structure of the Conference (thematic sessions, round tables, commissions, plenaries) and other meetings of NGO, trade union and women caucuses provided several opportunities for NGOs to voice concerns and establish contacts for future cooperation. More information on EI's and UNESCO Education's Internet sites.

Up-date of EI's interventions

As reported in the General Secretary's Progress Report to the Executive Board, the EI secretariat and its regional offices monitor on a permanent basis and investigate violations of trade union and human rights. With the participation of affiliates, missions are occasionally organised to selected countries (Ex: Ethiopia and Rwanda last May) and member organisations are also often called upon to intervene*. Since our last report in the April/May issue of the Monitor to mid September 1997, EI has sent protest letters to authorities in Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Hong Kong, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Palestine, Panama, Turkey, and (urgent) action appeals concerning situations in Argentina, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Korea and Mexico. A special World Teachers' Day message for solidarity with colleagues in Ethiopia, Kosova and Colombia was also sent to affiliates as well as an urgent action appeal about Algeria.

In October, Education International condemned the massacre by extremists of 11 women teachers in Aïn Adden (who were reported to have had their throats cut) and the killing of 16 pupils during an ambush laid by an armed group south of Algiers. In a letter to President Liamine Zeroual, EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen urged the authorities to do everything in their power to maintain public order and ensure the protection of all Algerian citizens. 125,000 persons have been killed so far in civil disorders.

Concerning Hong Kong, the Secretary for Education and Manpower of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) sent a substantial reply to EI last August. The official reiterated that the suspension of three labour-related LegCo ordinances was temporary and that the whole matter would be reviewed thoroughly, in consultation with the tripartite (Government, employer, employees) Labour Advisory Board, by 31 October 1997. "We look forward to receiving information on the legislation and hope that the new legislation will meet international labour standards" EI wrote back.

* The new ICFTU monthly magazine Trade Union World (formerly Free Labour World) reported on EI's  campaigns in its October issue. The publication (sent by the secretariat to all affiliates) also featured articles on WTD, EI and structural adjustment in education. More ICFTU information on Internet: http://www.icftu.org
 

E-mail and Voice Mail: Handle with Care

Most secretariat personnel in Brussels can now be reached directly by Electronic Mail or Voice Mail.
• E-mail. The format of personal Electronic Mail addresses is the following: firstname.surname@ei-ie.org .

The general Education International E-mail address  educint@infoboard.be  remains valid and should always be used when messages are directed to the organisation, a department or to more than one individual; this will ensure that your messages are not locked (unread and protected by a password) in an employee's computer for days or weeks when that person is on vacation or on a mission outside the office.
• Voice mail. The general EI phone number (+32 2 224 0611) will always be answered by a receptionist or EI's answering machine 24 hours a day. To reach a secretariat member directly in her or his office, dial +32 2 224 0 . . .  (see box below for last three digits). Personal messages for individuals can be left in their Voice Mail system when it is activated. However, the same caution as above should apply.

OBITUARIES

Mr Chris Pate, 37, General Secretary of the International Graphical Federation (IGF) died 15  September 1997. Born 24 June 1960 in England, Chris took a PhD from Sussex University in 1989 and, after a research post at the London-based International Transport Federation (ITF), he moved to the IGF in Brussels in 1991, became GS in 1994 and quickly established IGF as a vigorous international player.

Mr H. Dlamlenze (Atasa), Honorary Member of SADTU (South Africa), died 9 August 1997.
 

50 Years for Education, New UNESCO Multimedia kit

A new multimedia package consisting of an attractive and colorful 285-page brochure and two CD-ROMs was launched during the UNESCO General Conference.

The content (available on Internet) retraces over 50 years of actions for education, and major societal changes having occurred during this last half century. This selected collection of texts, photos, films, video and sound recordings is a unique source of information for policy-makers, teachers and researchers, as well as for young people keen on using new technologies.

Readers will also find references to Education International's cooperation with UNESCO, EI publications, World Teachers' Day and excerpts from the video "Teachers make the Difference". (Price: 60 US$ -or equivalent in other currencies- per kit).

For more information:
UNESCO Education Sector
Fax: +33 1 45 68 56 24
E-mail: p.toigo@unesco.org
Internet:  http://www.education.unesco.org
 

While huge strides have been made in reducing poverty over the past 30 years in the developing world, a quarter of the world's population is still affected. 800 million people worldwide do not have enough to eat and 1.3 billion live on less than $1 per day. The 20% poorest persons share 1.1% of the global income (against 2.3% in 1960). The eighth annual United Nations Development Program's Human Development Report* also introduces the Human Poverty Index (HPI) which measures life expectancy, education levels and overall material provision (lack of health services and safe water, percentage of children under weight, etc). But extreme poverty could be eradicated across the world in the early part of the 21st century, according to the UN survey. To break this downward spiral, a six-point plan (here summarized) is proposed: uPromoting political rights of poor people, uPromoting sexual equality, equal rights, equal access to education, health care, etc. uHigher levels of growth uManaged globalisation to help the poorest countries through fairer world trade uA democratic voice for the poor in developing countries uSpecial support from the international community in conflict prevention and peacekeeping.

The report says that only $4 billion a year over the next 10 years would provide basic social services in developing countries. A further investment of $40 billion over 20 years could eradicate income poverty across the world. The total price-tag would amount to $80 billion - 0.5% of global income , or the assets of the 7 wealthiest individuals. But, as the report concludes, "political commitment, not financial resources, is the real obstacle to poverty eradication". UNDP on Internet: http://www.undp.org

* Human Development Report 1997. UNDP/Oxford University Press, New York/Oxford. 245 pages. £16.99
Rapport mondial sur le développement humain 1997. PNUD/Éditions Économica, Paris. 267 pages. FF 150
 

The number of refugees fleeing human rights violations has almost doubled to more than 15 million over the past 10 years and their plight is deepening according to Amnesty International's 1997 Report published earlier this year. Amnesty accuses the countries of the rich North -which proclaim the importance they attach to human rights- of employing a variety of legal and administrative measures to obstruct and deter refugees from seeking asylum, too often forcing men, women and children back into the arms of their persecutors. These procedures also increase the burden of the governments of the South, which host 85 per cent of the world's refugees. AI, which also campaigns for the abolition of capital punishment, reports that at least 4,272 prisoners were executed in 39 countries, and 7,107 people were sentenced to death in 76 countries in 1996. Last year the NGO launched some 500 urgent action appeals about new cases, and follow up interventions for 383 cases in 92 countries, reveals the 400-page survey. More information on AI's activities, campaigns, reports (in various languages): http://www.amnesty.org

In today's knowledge economies, those who lag behind run ever greater risks of becoming the "excluded". In its recent publication Education and Equity in OECD Countries*, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development argues that the massive expansion of educational opportunities across the OECD area after 1945 is seriously qualified by stubborn and persisting inequalities. The report analyses policy developments and issues in initial schooling and in many education and training settings for older students and adults. More OECD information on Internet: http://www.oecd.org

*Education and Equity in OECD Countries. ISBN 92-64-15478-7 (91 97 04 1)
 Education et équité dans les pays de l'OCDE. ISBN 92-64-25478-1 (91 97 04 2)
 OECD, Paris 1997. (English: 132 pages, French: 156 pages).  FF95; DM28; US$19.

Just released: Parents as Partners in Schooling. ISBN 92-64-15492-2 (96 97 02 1)
Les parents partenaires de l'école. ISBN 92-64-25492-7 (96 97 02 2)
OECD, Paris 1997. (English: 208 pages, French: 232 pages).  FF150; US$30; DM44.

ISSN: 1027-2194