World Teachers’ Day: CULT Chair Nela Riehl and Jelmer Evers Call for an Ambitious Teachers’ Agenda
On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, ETUCE and Nela Riehl, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), have released a joint video highlighting the challenges facing teachers across Europe and the urgent need for stronger policy action.
This year's World Teachers' Day coincides with the 60th anniversary of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, a landmark international instrument that sets out principles on teachers' rights, responsibilities, working conditions and professional status.
In the video, Nela Riehl and ETUCE Director Jelmer Evers, both former teachers, reflect on key aspects of the profession, including professional autonomy, training opportunities, salaries and working conditions. Through a simple assessment of the current situation, they underline the gap that still exists between the aspirations of the 1966 Recommendation and the reality experienced by many teachers today.
Their message is clear: teachers must be valued, trusted and supported if Europe is to address teacher shortages, improve educational quality and build resilient education systems.
On World Teachers' Day, ETUCE renews its call for an ambitious European Teachers' Agenda that strengthens the attractiveness of the profession, promotes professional autonomy and development, and ensures the working conditions teachers need to provide quality education for all.