5 October 2008 – World Teachers’ Day is a day to celebrate teachers and the central role they play.
Although estimates by various organizations differ, it is clear that many millions of additional teachers are needed worldwide to achieve the Education for All goals.
A widespread response to this challenge has been the adoption of new teacher recruitment and training policies as well as certain measures to enhance staff management and utilization. These policies and measures however, have also generated a lot of debate on their respective implications for the condition of the teaching profession as well as the quality of teaching and learning. (More information on UNESCO and Teachers).
IIEP research:
the crucial role of teacher management reforms for improving teacher supply
IIEP’s research analyses teacher management practices: in order to reach the Education for All objectives, it will be crucial to use teaching staff in a more rational and equitable way. Essential teacher management reforms cannot be achieved without strong political commitment and a broad consultation process:
Studies on the professionalization of teachers help planners to design good training policies, enhance working conditions and improve teaching careers.
Teachers and their status in Latin America
Employing contract teachers is a means to providing schooling to the millions of students that remain out of school in a context of teacher shortages and limited resources.
Lessons learnt in the use of 'contract' teachers. Synthesis report
by Yael Duthilleul
In contexts of high HIV prevalence, teacher management practices must be reviewed and adapted to take into account the impact of the epidemic.
Teacher absences in an HIV and AIDS context: evidence from nine schools in Kavango and Caprivi (Namibia)
by Vanessa Castro, Yael Duthilleul and Françoise Caillods
Training teachers in an HIV and AIDS context: experiences from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia
by Charles Nzioka and Lucinda Ramos
Several countries have developed teacher codes of conduct or standards for the teaching profession, which aim at improving ethics in the educational sector.
Ethics in education: the role of teacher codes
by Shirley van Nuland and B.P. Khandelwal
with contributions from K. Biswal, E.A. Dewan and H.R. Bajracharya
Teacher Learning
Global perspectives on teacher learning
by John Schwille and Martial Dembélé in collaboration with Jane Schubert
IIEP net discussion forum
Global perspectives on teacher learning: improving policy and practice
8 September – 3 October 2008
The IIEP E-forum will finish just in time for World Teachers’ Day. A final report will be available in the coming weeks on the web. In the meantime, you can read the highlights from the first week of discussions prepared by Jack Schwille and Martial Dembélé.
The E-forum is centered around the issue of ensuring the supply of adequate numbers of competent teachers in ways that are sensitive to both desirability and feasibility. It gives the participants an opportunity to exchange their views and experiences on this issue. More specifically, it is designed to stimulate the debate on the critical issues and problems their countries face in the area of teacher education and retention. Read more
