European Trade Union Committee for Education

The COVID 19 outbreak is a public health crisis quite different than anything Europe has faced for many years. As education personnel and their trade unions grapple with the outbreak, we are supporting and informing member organisations in any way we can.

• Long COVID-19: What challenges for education trade unions across Europe?
• ETUCE study on Education Trade Unions in Europe facing COVID-19 Omicron Variant
• Well-being of academics and researchers in the Netherlands: who did COVID-19 affect the most?
• Belgium: Education is essential! Truly?
• Education and Training Monitor 2021 sheds light on well-being during COVID-19
• Gender segregation in education: setback to achieving gender equality in EU
• Latvia: the impact of the pandemic on teachers is extremely worrying
• Education trade unions building capacity for renewal beyond COVID-19
• French study: the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on researchers
• Romania: Success in the negotiations for a vaccination agreement
• UK Study found stress and anxiety of academics above national average during COVID-19 pandemic
• New OECD data outlines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the teaching profession
• Transmission of COVID-19 in education: the scenario for the next school year
• New NEU information tool to encourage critical-thinking on COVID-19 vaccines
• Hungarian teachers’ opinion on the reopening of schools

Shape the Future of Europe with Teachers! Education trade unions call for public investment in quality education as Europe looks to reopen after COVID-19

COVID-19 is a new and rapidly evolving crisis for Europe’s education systems. Closures have created paedogogical chaos for teaching and exams, while reopening will pose a huge health and safety challenge. But this global pandemic hit a sector that was already weakened by a decade of failed austerity. Now we fear that the economic aftershocks of the shutdown could have terrible consequences for public services like education. Further cuts would only widen inequalities and be a disaster for students, staff and communities – especially the most vulnerable.

So this week ETUCE will be making the case for stronger public investment in education and sounding the alarm about the creeping privatisation and commercialisation of the sector. It is urgent that we make the teaching profession more attractive, to recruit and retain excellent professionals and ease the teacher shortages facing Europe’s education systems. And it is essential that we guarantee quality public education for all – the only way for education to contribute to fairer and more equal societies.

Let’s build the tomorrow we want to see. Let’s shape the future of Europe with teachers.

Throughout the week we will share snapshots of the funding crisis facing European education systems and explore its impact on students and staff. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages and check out our recent Statement Turn the Tide: Invest in Education.

For more information about ETUCE's ongoing campaign Shape The Future of Europe with Teachers, check out the campaign page.

Get in touch

The ETUCE Secretariat sends solidarity to all teachers, academics and other education personnel and their education trade unions as they react to and tackle this unprecedented crisis. And we all know that the work is just beginning. We invite ETUCE member organisations to inform the ETUCE Secretariat about the changing situation in your countries and sectors as Europe looks to reopen its economies and education sectors. Keep us updated on the emerging exit strategies, what they mean for staff and students, how you are engaging to shape the situation, and the potential long-term impact on public investment in quality education for all. And let us know how we can support you. Contact ETUCE at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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