Education International (EI), to which the Japan Teachers’ Union is affiliated, held its 10th World Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from July 27 to August 2. The theme of the event was “Growing our unions, elevating our professions, and defending democracy.”

In her opening remarks, outgoing EI President Susan Hopgood emphasized the importance of global solidarity among educators and unions. She declared, “Through our unions, we define the notion of quality public education and the essential conditions of society to make it available to every student everywhere.” She urged the assembly to continue their efforts in advancing education and defending democracy. Hopgood highlighted the crucial role that educators and their unions play in addressing global challenges, such as the shortage of teachers, the impact of technology, and the climate crisis. She added, “without teachers and their unions, you can’t have any of this, truth, trust, or democracy. it’s one thing to have knowledge, it’s another thing to have wisdom and pedagogy and the ability to apply it ethically and morally to the benefit of many. The experience of education is more than just the delivery of content. Educational settings are where we build societies, and we build democracies.”

Approximately 1,200 union representatives from 150 countries attended the Congress, where more than 40 resolutions were proposed and discussed in five key areas: “Growing our unions,” “Elevating our professions,” “Defending democracy,” “Ensuring equity,” and “Promoting peace.” These discussions focused on the critical issues facing the world today. Takashi Kajiwara, President of the Japan Teachers’ Union and newly elected EI Vice President, shared the history of the Japan Teachers’ Union, which was formed out of regret for the past when their predecessors sent students to battlefields and from a strong desire for lasting peace. He proposed a resolution on “Peace Education,” emphasizing the importance of teaching students about peace and fostering tolerance and compassion, which was widely supported and adopted.

The newly elected EI President, Mugwena Maluleke, Secretary General of SADTU from South Africa, led the fight to dismantle apartheid created teacher associations and pave the path for a united, non-racial and non-sexist trade union.　His commitment to social justice is deeply rooted in his personal experiences including his time as a child laborer, which fueled his dedication to fighting for labor rights and better working conditions. Reflecting on his new role, he stated: “As we come together to lead Education International, our challenge is to stand up for public education, for social justice, for human dignity and peace (…) We look forward