David Edwards
David Edwards is the General Secretary of Education International.
Written by David Edwards
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Democracy 19 October 2021 Samuel Paty, one year later: “The teaching profession: the light that illuminates darkness”
David Edwards
A year ago, French history and geography professor Samuel Paty was decapitated near his school in a suburb of Paris. In response to this horrifying attack, the Education International Executive Board adopted a resolution reaffirming the crucial role of teachers in supporting critical thinking, freedom of speech, science, the truth,...
Samuel Paty, one year later: “The teaching profession: the light that illuminates darkness” -
Fighting the commercialisation of education 23 June 2021 "Celebrating the value and virtue of public service."
David Edwards
United Nations Public Service Day was established by the General Assembly in 2002. It “celebrates the value and virtue of public service to the community; highlights the contribution of public service in the development process; recognizes the work of public servants and encourages young people to pursue careers in the...
"Celebrating the value and virtue of public service." -
Climate action and literacy 23 April 2021 “Millions of Teachers Urge World Leaders to Prioritize Climate Education”, by David Edwards and Kathleen Rogers.
David Edwards, Kathleen Rogers
Governments across the globe are overlooking two of the most powerful tools in the fight against climate change and the building of just, sustainable, societies—teachers and students. If humanity is to avoid the worst consequences of global warming and fast forward the green, clean and sustainable economies of tomorrow today,...
“Millions of Teachers Urge World Leaders to Prioritize Climate Education”, by David Edwards and Kathleen Rogers. -
Fighting the commercialisation of education 12 April 2021 “On Edtech, the public good, and democracy”
David Edwards
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought death and despair. However, it has also sharpened our vision. We have seen dangers more clearly and trends that were threatening the health of our societies. In some areas, like inequality, it is apparent to everybody. In others, however, risky developments are partially hidden. These...
“On Edtech, the public good, and democracy” -
Trade union rights are human rights 25 March 2021 “Covid Story Will End with Equity and Leadership”, by David Edwards.
David Edwards
My friend and colleague and one of the education giants of our time, Mary Hatwood Futrell, wrote this on the passing of Nelson Mandela in 2013: “We pause to mark the distance we’ve come and keep focus on what’s yet to cover. One thing seems certain as the need for...
“Covid Story Will End with Equity and Leadership”, by David Edwards. -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 20 November 2020 The World Depends on Public Services and Public Services Require Political Will.
Rosa Pavanelli, David Edwards
As G20 world leaders meet, it is time for a fundamental overhaul of global investment policy to build for the future. That future depends on public services and the people who provide them. Crisis has brought recognition to “front-line” workers, public and private, who are both visible and essential. However,...
The World Depends on Public Services and Public Services Require Political Will. -
Democracy 27 October 2020 “The Teaching Profession: The light that illuminates darkness”, by David Edwards.
David Edwards
The brutal assassination of Samuel Paty, French history and geography teacher, on 16 October in front of his school sent waves of shock far beyond France and the teaching profession.
“The Teaching Profession: The light that illuminates darkness”, by David Edwards. -
Union renewal and development 6 October 2020 #WorldTeachersDay | “Regaining Our Common Purpose”, by David Edwards.
David Edwards
A day after the largest online gathering of teachers in history, a split-screen picture emerges of a global crisis for our students and a profession determined to build back better.
#WorldTeachersDay | “Regaining Our Common Purpose”, by David Edwards. -
Trade union rights are human rights 16 June 2020 As frontlines shift to schools: Can governments ensure safety? by David Edwards.
David Edwards
Education International echoes the call of education workers from around the world: national governments must ensure their protection through evidence-based public health measures in the transition back to school. Read about how the global union federation responds to this call.
As frontlines shift to schools: Can governments ensure safety? by David Edwards. -
Leading the profession 2 June 2020 "10 years of ISTP – what governments and unions can achieve together", by Andreas Schleicher and David Edwards
David Edwards, Andreas Schleicher
Ten years ago, Education International and the OECD began co-hosting with various countries an altogether unique, (somewhat unlikely) but critically necessary convening of ministers of education and heads of teachers’ unions. The purpose was to support an informed and honest policy dialogue between and among elected representatives of the teaching...
"10 years of ISTP – what governments and unions can achieve together", by Andreas Schleicher and David Edwards -
Fighting the commercialisation of education 9 April 2020 "World Bank shifts position on funding for most private-for-profit schools", by David Edwards.
David Edwards
In a sudden and far-reaching policy shift, World Bank President David Malpass has agreed to major reforms that include officially freezing any direct or indirect investments in private for-profit pre-primary, primary and secondary schools. This has been a critical issue for Education International for many years and has been the...
"World Bank shifts position on funding for most private-for-profit schools", by David Edwards. -
Trade union rights are human rights 17 March 2020 “COVID-19: educators and unions stand united and mobilise”, by David Edwards.
David Edwards
Today, teachers and education support personnel, union leaders the world over are coming together in myriad ways to find collective solutions to address the needs of their students, colleagues and communities despite enormous challenges and deteriorating situations.
“COVID-19: educators and unions stand united and mobilise”, by David Edwards. -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 13 February 2020 “PISA, well-being, and teacher unions”, by David Edwards.
David Edwards
Many of the headlines when the OECD releases its PISA reports focus on country rankings. While we have consistently critiqued the league table approach there is much in these reports that is useful to educators and their unions.
“PISA, well-being, and teacher unions”, by David Edwards. -
Climate action and literacy 23 December 2019 "On life and the market", by David Edwards.
David Edwards
From an early age, we try to fit children into the world. Instead, perhaps, we should reflect on how the world should fit children.
"On life and the market", by David Edwards. -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 16 December 2019 “Global Refugee Forum: time for immediate and sustainable action”, by David Edwards.
David Edwards
The refugee Convention of 1951 was born out of the profound feeling of shame following the Second World War due to the failure to respond to and receive those fleeing the Holocaust. That action of inaction condemned many to become its victims. Lest we forget, that Convention and the 1967...
“Global Refugee Forum: time for immediate and sustainable action”, by David Edwards. -
Climate action and literacy 18 October 2019 “Education – Changing the World”, by David Edwards
David Edwards
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) devoted the most recent edition of its magazine, “Perspectives” to education and democracy. It covers the challenges to democracy in Canada, North America and the world. It also reports on education initiatives that have been developed in Canada to support and re-enforce democratic values and...
“Education – Changing the World”, by David Edwards -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 3 October 2019 “Nothing about us without us: educators take the lead on professional teaching standards”, by David Edwards.
David Edwards
One of the most consequential debates and decisions of our 8th World Congress was on professional teaching standards. Congress passed a resolution supporting the implementation of a joint EI/UNESCO framework on the development of professional teaching standards where it is clear that teachers’ unions must be at the centre of...
“Nothing about us without us: educators take the lead on professional teaching standards”, by David Edwards. -
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 24 September 2019 “Governments, Fulfil Your Promises: Make Climate Change Education Universal Now!”, by David Edwards.
David Edwards
It was a historic moment when in 2015 UN member states adopted a progressive agenda for a better world, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Central to the SDGs was the important (albeit overdue) recognition that social and economic development cannot be pursued without taking into account their environmental impact. That...
“Governments, Fulfil Your Promises: Make Climate Change Education Universal Now!”, by David Edwards.