EI and CTF call for G20 to promote quality education with qualified teachers

VANCOUVER, June 24 /CNW Telbec/ - The Presidents of Education International (EI) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) called for the G20 to support a new global partnership for teacher education and professional development.

"We face a world wide shortage of over 10 million teachers over the next five years", said EI President Susan Hopgood. "Millions more need support to become qualified and develop their professional skills. Qualified teachers are the key to quality in education, and countries need an unprecedented global partnership to invest in education," she added.

Supporting the EI call, CTF President Mary-Lou Donnelly said Canadian teachers had worked for years to run in-service training programs for their colleagues in developing countries thanks to funding provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). "We are deeply committed to teachers helping teachers, and Canada has tremendous experience to offer to such a new global partnership," she continued.

The call for this new global partnership is featured in a statement presented by Global Unions to the leaders attending the twin G8 and G20 summits this week. Both the EI and CTF Presidents are attending the World Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in Vancouver.

EI General Secretary Fred Van Leeuwen commented that the need to address the world wide demand for qualified teachers was now winning support from all quarters. EI had engaged in consultations on this key issue in recent months with UNESCO, the World Bank, the OECD and the World Economic Forum as well as Global Unions, NGOs and major corporations.

"The consensus on this is welcome and striking," said Leeuwen, "and the G20 is the place to move it forward. We're calling on the G20 to support the concept in Toronto, and to work with all the stakeholders, especially EI and our Members to put proposals in place for the next G20 in Seoul this November," he concluded.

Founded in 1920, CTF (www.ctf-fce.ca) is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teacher organizations (http://www.ctf-fce.ca/MembersLink/Default.aspx?cats=MO) that represent nearly 200,000 elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada. CTF is also a member of the international body of teachers, Education International (www.ei-ie.org).

    
    Comments:    Susan Hopgood, EI President
                 Mary-Lou Donnelly, CTF President
    

For further information: Media Contact: Francine Filion, Director of Communications, 613-688-4314 or by cell [phone]