31 July 2024
SADTU congratulates her General Secretary for being elected as President of Education International (EI)
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) congratulates its General Secretary, Dr Mugwena Maluleke for being nominated by our sister unions across the globe and elected unopposed, as president of the global union federation of teachers and education support personnel, at Education International (EI) 10th World Congress currently underway in Buenos Aires, Argentine attended by 1 400 delegates from education unions and stakeholders across the world.
We express our sincere gratitude to all the unions and their members for supporting his election. The EI has 383 member organisations in 178 countries and territories representing over 32 million educators and education support personnel from pre-school to university level.
A teacher by profession, Mugwena has been a social justice activist since his days as a college student. He is a seasoned unionist. He is the General Secretary of SADTU the largest union in the public service and affiliate of COSATU and EI.
Practicing education activism at an international level is not new for Dr Maluleke. Before his election as EI President, comrade Mugwena was Vice President of EI, Africa Region where he has played a critical role in ensuring unity and stability among unions in the region. He has been at the forefront in support of teacher unions in countries that are anti-unions like eSwatini. He has traversed to the war-torn Palestine to give support to teacher unions and students in that country.
He has facilitated several domestic and international round table webinars in defense of democracy, human rights, and workers’ rights. As a scholar, he has co-published more than six peer-reviewed papers in education.
For SADTU, Cde Maluleke’s election is affirming and recognising not only him but also SADTU’s role in the trajectory of transforming education in terms of ensuring access, quality education for all, respect for the teaching profession and protection of workers’ rights in the education sector.
We have no doubt that Cde Maluleke’s vision for education will bolster the voice of Education International and elevate South Africa to have a say and sway in education matters on the international stage.
ISSUED BY: SADTU SECRETARIAT