The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) wishes the global union federation of teachers and education support personnel – Education International (EI), a successful 10th World Congress to be held in Argentina, Buenos Aires from July 29 to 2 August 2024 under the theme, “Growing our Unions, Elevating our Professions, Defending Democracy.”
More than 1 400 delegates from teacher and education workers’ unions from over 178 countries are attending the World Congress. The EI has 383 member organisations that represents over 32 million teachers and education support personnel from pre-school to tertiary institutions in 178 countries and territories.
SADTU, as an affiliate of EI has a delegation covering basic education, TVET, Education support, Early Childhood Education, student chapter, national and provincial representatives attending the 10th World Congress. SADTU has also shared its observer allocation with the Department of Basic Education where the Director General is accompanied by some Heads of Departments, South African Council for Educators (SACE), Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC); Education, Training and Development Practices (ETDP) SETA, education expert Mary Metcalfe and Dr Veronique Genniker who has been instrumental in helping SADTU with learner and teacher mental wellness.
This high-powered delegation from South Africa is interested in the debates that will shape early childhood education, basic education, further and higher education. This platform brings experts and activists in indigenous communities, technology, and curriculum development studies.
Delegates will discuss and resolve on issues pertaining to education, teachers, and education support personnel globally. The EI is at the forefront of fighting for the cause of education on the global stage through several campaigns and more specifically the Go Public, Fund Education campaign which is advocating for quality public education through the funding of public education and the teaching profession and denouncing budget cuts and the privatisation of education.
Among the focus areas, the 10th World Congress will look into research and strategies for tackling teacher shortages which is a challenge in many regions across the world. In addition to addressing teacher shortages, the Congress will also focus on the well-being of teachers and education support personnel. Recognising the pressures educators and education support personnel face, the discussions will explore ways to support their mental and physical health. Focus on wellbeing is crucial for maintaining a motivated and effective workforce that can deliver high quality education.
The World Congress will also deliberate on the implications of technology and artificial intelligence in education, alongside the integration of indigenous knowledge systems to balance innovation and preservation of culture.
Discussions on the progress Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) which seek to ensure equitable quality education for all, and gender equality and empowerment of women and the girl child will take place.
The EI was the voice of the teaching profession on the United Nations High Level Panel on the Teaching Profession that was convened by the United Nations Secretary General in response to growing global teacher shortage. Ministers of education, educations experts, former presidents, academic and representatives from society as well as teachers and students’ unions from around the world came together to be part of the Panel which came up with progressive recommendations that were calling on governments worldwide to take urgent action on among others, the pay, conditions and job security of teachers, quality of initial teacher training and continuous professional development, having teachers and their unions at the heart of policy making in education, allowing teacher autonomy to choose the technology best suited to support teaching and learning, equitable funding for education and sustainable investment in the teaching profession and an end to austerity measures that impact education.
SADTU, as a proud participant in this World Congress, is looking forward to contributing to the robust discussions and driving positive change in the education sector.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat