Education International North America and the Caribbean

World Summit on Teachers: 50 million teachers are needed now. Education leaders call for action!

Santiago de Chile | 28-29 August 2025

From recommendations to action 18 months after the UN recommendations on the teaching profession, world leaders and Education International representatives gather in Santiago de Chile to confront an unprecedented crisis. Without immediate action on recruitment, retention, and genuine social dialogue, the right to education remains an empty promise.

Education as a driving force for self-determination, equity, and the reclamation of knowledge systems

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August), President Mugwena Maluleke reaffirmed Education International’s commitment to Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, quality, public education that is culturally relevant.

United States: Union-powered National Academy for AI Instruction aims to put teachers in the driver’s seat on technology in the classroom

Founded by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and its affiliate the United Federation of Teachers in partnership with Microsoft, Open AI, and Anthropic, the National Academy for AI Instruction will provide access to free training and curriculum on artificial intelligence (AI) for all 1.8 million members of the AFT.

Education International opens consultations to ensure voice of the profession is heard in the revision of international Recommendations on the status of teaching personnel

In the lead up to the revision of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers (1966) and the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel (1997), Education International (EI) has launched a consultation process with its 375 member organisations representing over 33 million educators in 180 countries...

Global education union movement rallies in solidarity with educators in the United States as they resist relentless attacks from the Trump Administration

On the 4th of July, Independence Day in the United States, education unions around the world are standing up in support of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Our colleagues are on the frontlines, mobilising and organising to defend public education, students, and school...

Educators, families, and activists unite against Trump policies in one of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history

On June 14 millions of people took to the streets in a sweeping mobilisation against the policies of the Trump Administration in the United States. The protests spanned over 2,100 cities and towns making it the third-largest single-day demonstration in U.S. history. Spearheaded by a coalition of civil society groups...

Canada: Quebec’s Premier must “backtrack” and fully fund higher education

In Canada, the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and its federations in the college system are denouncing cuts of 150 million Canadian dollars (around 96 million euros) by 2025-2026 and are calling on Premier François Legault to restore funding for the CEGEPs, the public education institutions where the first...

International Labour Conference: Workers’ Group supports call to strengthen Recommendations concerning Teaching Personnel

Addressing the Committee on the Application of Standards at the International Labour Conference on June 3rd, EI President Mugwena Maluleke responded to the report of the joint ILO-UNESCO Committee of Experts on the Application of the Recommendations concerning Teaching Personnel (CEART). As the Workers’ Group spokesperson, Maluleke welcomed the proposal...

Mexico: A 10% salary increase and an additional week of vacation in recognition of teachers’ invaluable contribution to the nation

On May 15, Teachers’ Day in Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced a significant salary raise of 10% and an additional week of vacation for the country’s teaching workforce. The new measures are the result of constructive and open social dialogue between the government and the National Union of Education...

Fix the Jamaica Teaching Council Bill!

Responding to the recently passed Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill, leaders of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) and the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) have expressed grave concerns over the implications of the legislation on teacher autonomy and the future of education in Jamaica, including the potential exodus of educators.

Haiti : Education in the midst of an unprecedented crisis

As the country faces a political and security crisis that has brought it to a standstill, Haitian teachers are rallying to save education. Between school closures, strikes and chaotic relocations, the situation is alarming. Unions are sounding the alarm and calling for collective action to get things back on track.

United States: Educators and allies turn out in force on May Day to demand dignity, safe schools, and a fairer future

Across the United States and around the world, working people came together on May 1st, International Workers Day, to honor the legacy of those who fought for workers' rights and to carry that fight forward. In the United States tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across the...

Starting strong: Education unions mobilise for the right to early childhood education

Despite its essential role, early childhood education (ECE) is undermined by chronic underfunding. Recognition of the importance of early childhood education, as well as the salaries, job satisfaction, working conditions, and status of ECE workers remain low. Meanwhile, private actors are working to take over the sector, filling the funding...

Education unions around the world stand in solidarity with educators in the United States as they rise to oppose attacks on education and democracy

Education International member organisations in the United States – the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) – continue to receive an outpouring of support from education unionists across the globe. The U.S. unions are joining forces to resist the unprecedented attacks by the Trump administration...

Jamaica launches “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign amid critical teacher shortage

In a bid to address the critical shortage of teachers and improve the state of education in the country, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) launched the Go Public! Fund Education campaign. The initiative aims to tackle the teacher shortage by enhancing educational infrastructure and teacher remuneration.

Joining forces for women’s rights at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

A delegation of women education unionists from 12 countries represented the millions of women who power education around the world at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW). Taking place in New York from the 10th to the 21st of March, the...

United States: Trump administration slashes Department of Education workforce in continued attack on public education, teachers, and students

As part of his continued attack on the right to education in the United States, the Trump Administration enacted a series of severe cuts to the Department of Education, including laying off close to half of the agency's workforce. The layoffs are part of the Trump administration’s plans to gut...

Education International delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women: Gender equity requires quality inclusive education for all!

A delegation of 16 women education unionists from 12 countries is attending the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to call for more investment in public education as a key step in achieving gender equity around the world. Taking place in New York from...