The workshop, held in Kuching, Sarawak, from 26-28 August, gathered 17 participants from Education

Internationals national affiliates, the STU and the Sabah Teachers Union (STU-Sabah), and discussed union
updates, the Second EI World Womens Conference (WWCII) held in April 2014 in Dublin, Ireland, and
EIsUnite for Quality Education campaign.
During the three-day workshop, the participants covered topics such as the organisation and retention of women
in unions and in leadership positions, core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and
the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). They also discussed the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, discrimination, and school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV).
At the end of the workshop, it was agreed that:

STU-Sabah will set up a campaign for World Teachers Day

STU will launch a national Unite for Quality Education campaign on 17 September 2014 at its biennial
delegates conference

A joint action plan on a SRGBV campaign, to be launched at end-March 2015

The joint action plan on SRGBV arose after attendees told of their difficulties tackling this issue due to the way
higher authorities ignore its seriousness. The SRGBV road map gave unionists an insight on how to deal with this
serious issue, and outlined how and what unions can do. According to attendees, this was vital given that
perpetrators are not always punished and victims may be transferred to another location or school.
Awareness-raising campaigns
The workshop also looked at promoting gender equality in leadership positions, increasing womens participation
in the decision-making process, and gaining knowledge and enhancing social networking.
Participants were very enthusiasts and asked for EIs help in organising future seminars on education in the
Malaysian context, and to hold a workshop at least once a year for up to 30 participants, said EI Regional AsiaPacific Coordinator Pathma Krishnan. The younger women and men need exposure to training and workshops
on national and international issues. Affiliates see this as an important tool to attract them to participate and
understand what is happening in education and trade unionism globally.
Krishnan also highlighted how promoting equality and encouraging diversity is core business for education,
through questioning gender stereotypes, providing windows of opportunity, opening doors of access, and building
positive, inclusive learning environments.
Teachers are at the heart of education, she said. Quality education needs qualified and motivated teachers
with fair working conditions, including equal pay for women and men. Teachers must be trained to deal with the
dynamics of sexism, racism, and homophobia in the classroom.
Working to achieve gender equality in unions, education, and society has been a principal aim and a major work
priority for EI since its Founding Congress in 1995, and this is reflected in the work of all five of EIs regions.
Many education unions and their womens networks are bringing changes and transformative solutions to unions
and society.

EIs Gender Equality Action Plan

EI also developed its Gender Equality Action Plan, a framework which will enable EI and its affiliates to
translate education unions policies, rhetoric, and activities relating to gender equality into action. It highlights
three main priorities in the run-up to 2015:
1. Promoting gender equality within unions
2. Securing girls access to and participation in quality public education
3. Promoting and securing womens economic empowerment

Additional priorities, which will be addressed in the post-2015 period, include women in decision-making and
participation in the public sphere; gender sensitive education to overcome gender stereotypes; balancing work
and family responsibilities; eliminating violence against women; strengthening and linking EI womens networks.