European Trade Union Committee for Education

• View all news from ETUCE

On 14 - 15 September 2022, ETUCE and EFEE held their second social dialogue capacity building seminar in Riga, Latvia. The event took place in the frame of the EU-funded project “Towards a Framework of Action on the Attractiveness of the Teaching Profession through effective Social Dialogue in Education”. Working together with EFEE and local union representatives, the two-day seminar aimed to provide room for European Social Partners in Education to enhance their knowledge and awareness of EU governance, policies and priorities on social dialogue and the future of education, and to address specific social dialogue capacity building opportunities and needs. ETUCE and EFEE representatives discussed and sought to realise common understanding of the elements directly and indirectly linked to the attractiveness of the teaching profession, as outlined in the ETUCE/EFEE “Declaration Towards a Framework of Action on the Teaching Profession” (2018) and in the current ESSDE Work Programme, as well as new elements which emerged during the fact-finding seminar in October 2021.

Inga Vanaga, president of LIZDA, took the opportunity to share an update on their discussion with the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science in their negotiations for increased salaries and better workload balance.

Following the research presentation by Howard Stevenson (University of Nottingham) and Alison Millner (Aalborg University) on the general state of play of the European education system and on the issues linked to low attractiveness and shortages of education employees, Nora Pileicikiene (Lithuanian VET Schools Association, Karalius Mindaugas VET Centre) and Zbiegniew Swierczerk (Solidarność) highlighted the need to propose better career pathways as well as additional psychological and teaching material assistance to teachers and students.

The afternoon session focused on the role of education systems in integrating migrant students and the resources needed for teachers to carry out this complex process. Participants gathered to share experiences from their respective national context and specifically addressed challenges such as a lack of funding, shortage of staff and teaching material, curricula not being adapted to students’ needs, and administrative burden. An additional emphasis was put on the future of remote learning and on how the risks of power cuts prove to be detrimental for students and teachers.

In working groups, participants exchanged good practices and shared opinions on the motivation and engagement of teachers and on the impact of economic governance on the attractiveness of the profession. Mentorship from experienced teachers as an opportunity for mutual professional development and strengthening recruitment and retention paths were highlighted as crucial aspects to be reinforced. The importance of involving social partners, albeit seeking alliances with relevant stakeholders, was also firmly stated.

The second day aimed to establish the factors that encourage young people to enter the profession and retain those who consider leaving due to low wages and lack of recognition. The seminar participants identified that improving working conditions and establishing measures that support teachers’ professional development should be the main priorities for education employers and trade unions to increase the attractiveness of the teaching profession.

The final project conference will take place in Warsaw in January 2023. Learn more about the project here.

Report