Education International CEE Round Table 2010 Education and the Economic Crisis

Education and the Economic Crisis Introduction: Education and solving the crisis What is the origin of the crisis? Financial systems and lack of regulation Governments and intergovernmental institutions Who is responsible for solving it? Who has the power to solve it? Governments and intergovernmental institutions - IMF/EMF/World Bank Local/Regional Authorities

Education and the Economic Crisis Importance for union leaders of retaining an education perspective Education/teacher unions cannot solve the economic crisis on their own Spokespersons must separate their personal responses as citizens from their responses as education union leaders Education unions are not political parties forming the opposition to the government They are champions of teachers and education services

Education and the Economic Crisis Democratic Governments and local/regional authorities respond to democratic pressures Answerable to the public Responsible to the public Influenced by the public and civil society organisations, including trade unions Susceptible to public lobbying

Education and the Economic Crisis International Financial Institutions are remote and undemocratic and answerable for the most part to their own governors only - governors may be chairs of national financial institutions, such as central banks or Ministers or former politicians -unions should identify and seek to influence individuals EI and ETUCE seek to influence the institutions directly

Education and the Economic Crisis What is our role as Education Unions? Promote and defend education services and members interests-salaries, pensions, working conditions Seek to influence governments and local and regional authorities which provide and fund education services Seek to influence the financial institutions Cuts are not inevitable – they are the result of political decisions

Education and the Economic Crisis How to pressurise Governments and local/regional authorities to protect education Focus on the core issues for teachers and education Promote investment in education as a public good – good for society good for children and the future good for employment good for economic growth

Education and the Economic Crisis Promote high quality education Emphasise the impact education has on the lives of children/students Emphasise the importance of education meeting the needs of all children/students Emphasise the importance of quality in education Emphasise education for all and life-long learning Emphasise the role of high quality teaching and well-motivated teachers

Education and the Economic Crisis Emphasise the negative effects which reductions in the numbers of teachers have on school services Emphasise the damage of cutbacks to the education on identifiable children and students Illustrate what the loss of services will mean to individual schools as well as to the system as a whole Explain the consequences of cuts in practical and realistic terms

Education and the Economic Crisis The messages should be positive – negativity is de-motivating They should be easy to identify with They should be designed to build solidarity between teachers and with other potential supporters The objectives should be realistic – they should not demand too much of the physical and financial resources available

Education and the Economic Crisis How do we do this effectively! Communication – Plan a strategy with targets and a timescale Choose objectives carefully Target the audience for your messages Keep the messages simple Stay on message

Education and the Economic Crisis Use direct and indirect methods of getting messages across – Articles in newspapers Radio and TV programmes Advertising Promotion activities Posters Electronic: texting, emails, internet and social media Political lobbying

Education and the Economic Crisis Highlight the positive Celebrate the successes of education Quote the international statistics which support your messages Personalise messages Where possible use non-aligned supporters to reinforce the messages

Education and the Economic Crisis Build Alliances/Partnerships Parents Student representative bodies School authorities Employers bodies Other trade unions and trade union centres Civil society organisations Find supportive politicians and public representatives

Education and the Economic Crisis TRADE UNION ACTION Recognise the problems Be seen to negotiate Seek compromises Be prepared to justify your messages with credible research, explanations and experience Have answers prepared for the difficult questions

Education and the Economic Crisis Establish a recognisable identity for the union by using a small number of spokespersons for the union who repeat the same core messages at every opportunity Reinforce the messages by getting support from spokespersons from other unions/organisations with the same or similar messages

Education and the Economic Crisis Industrial action is generally only effective in engaging support for a campaign among union members and activists– the public response tends to be negative Industrial action and disruptive demonstrations generally lose public support Strike action should be, and be seen to be, a last resort – it is a weapon to be used judiciously The higher the bar is raised by industrial or strike action the more difficult it is for a government, employer or union to compromise Industrial or strike action makes it easier for the government or an employer to turn the public against the union which may be portrayed as selfishly pursuing its own interests

Education and the Economic Crisis Peaceful demonstrations may - Involve parents, school authorities and civil society organisations - Engage public interest - Avoid unnecessary disruption - be innovative and interesting

Education and the Economic Crisis Try to build a public consensus -supporting the view that education needs more, not less, financial support - that good education services are essential to the well-being of society and to economic recovery - that good teachers are essential to the provision of education services - that salaries, pensions and conditions must be attractive to recruit good teachers and to retain them in service

Education and the Economic Crisis The Success of your work:- Will ensure that education makes a major contribution to solving the economic crisis in your country, and Will achieve the objectives of protecting and promoting the interests of your members and of the education service