On the occasion of the 10th World Congress of Education International, the Education and Solidarity Network celebrated its 15th anniversary by bringing together 250 union representatives, mutualists and researchers from around the world in Buenos Aires for a global meeting entitled “Meeting the challenges and sharing solutions for the health and well-being of education personnel“.
Organized in partnership with Education International, MGEN, and the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education, the event highlighted the importance of health and well-being issues for education professionals, both for the future of their profession and for guaranteeing quality education.
The program has been designed around the results of the 2nd edition of the International Barometer of Educational Staff Health and Wellbeing (I-BEST), which surveyed over 26,000 teachers and support staff in 11 territories across four continents in 2023.
Joint global advocacy
In her opening address, Clotilde Truffaut, Director responsible for social commitment and international affairs at MGEN, said:
“We, mutuals and unions, who defend access for all to quality education and health systems, must join forces and make a common plea, along with other defenders of solidarity, public services and democracy, to enable everyone to enjoy the inalienable rights inherent to their person. […] Social protection is a fundamental determinant of health and well-being. This protection must be collective, inclusive, and based on solidarity. That’s why we work closely with the International Labour Office on the issue of social protection education. And what better ambassadors to pass on this culture of social protection than the education staff who are present all over the world?”
Referring to the I-BEST, David Edwards, Secretary General of Education International, stressed:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the importance of fostering healthy and safe educational environments for staff and students, highlighting the crucial role of mental health support. […] Education International is deeply committed to the further development of this important initiative, with the help of our member organizations who have an incredibly powerful tool at their disposal to advance the trade union health and wellbeing agenda at a national level.”
A workshop entitled “Well-being at work: promoting teacher well-being” was also held on Tuesday July 30, during the EI World Congress.
Sharing experiences and identifying solutions
During the plenary session of the meeting, Morgane Richard, Head of ESN, welcomed renowned international experts to present the results of the I-BEST 2023 barometer and provide participants with an overview of data, practices and policies aimed at promoting the health and well-being of educational staff: Daniel Gollan, Argentinian physician and politician, Juan José Guilarte, Senior Advisor for Workers’ Activities at the ILO, and Didier Jourdan, UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education.
Participants from the Comité syndical francophone de l’éducation et de la formation (CSFEF) then joined us for the second part of the event: the Solutions Forum. Divided into 13 simultaneous collective intelligence workshops detailed in the participants’ guide, this forum enabled participants from each country to share their experiences, testify to inspiring initiatives and, finally, mutually identify solutions.
To mark the occasion, a poster competition was organized to highlight initiatives from around the world aimed at improving the health and well-being of educational staff. Find the results of the I-BEST 2023 poster competition here:
“No wellness without well-doing”
Didier Jourdan, Chair Holder of the UNESCO Chair “Global Health and Education” and Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for “Research in Education and Health”, closed the session with a summary of the outcomes of the Solutions Forum workshops. The work of these workshops will be brought together in a report and recommendations to be shared with participants in autumn 2024.
This international meeting reinforced more than ever the need to take action to protect the physical and mental health of educational staff to guarantee a quality education.
A huge thank you to all participants for their presence, enthusiasm, and commitment! Together, we will continue to work for the health and well-being of educational communities by encouraging the sharing of practices on an international scale.
