European Trade Union Committee for Education

APRES COVID: European Sectoral Social Partners in Education Addressing Psychosocial Risks for an Equitable and Sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis  APRES COVID is a two-year social dialogue project, seeking to assess the long-term impact of the COVID crisis on the psychosocial risks in the teaching profession and actively promote an equitable and sustainable education-led recovery. The initiative is carried out by the ETUCE and EFEE in partnership with education trade unions and employer organisations from Belgium, Malta, Portugal, and Slovenia. The project features three case-study visits, a training seminar, and a final conference.  

• Context
• Research and infographics
• 1st Case Study Visit | Ljubljana (Slovenia)
• 2nd case study visit : Lisbon (Portugal)
• 3rd case study visit : Malta
• Training seminar
• Final Conference
• Political commitment
• Guidelines

The European social partners in education, ETUCE and EFEE, have launched a revised version of the Joint Practical Guidelines on Preventing and Combating Psychosocial Hazards in Education. Nearly a decade after the original adoption in 2016, this update reflects the lessons learned from the APRES COVID project, which assessed the long-term impact of the pandemic and labour-market changes on psychosocial risks in the sector.

Psychosocial risks remain among the most urgent challenges facing education staff, amplified by digitalisation, social complexity in classrooms, and rising disruptive behaviour. The revised Guidelines highlight the need for effective, preventive measures to ensure safe, healthy, and supportive working environments as a prerequisite for high-quality education.

Developed through a collaborative, Europe-wide process, the Guidelines serve as a practical, action-oriented tool for education employers and trade unions. They are designed to be adaptable to national and local contexts, providing concrete support for staff and representatives working on occupational health and safety.

These Guidelines are intended for education employers, trade unions, and all staff across Europe committed to promoting well-being in the workplace. Available in English for now, more languages will follow (French, Russian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Slovenian, Dutch, Croatian, Czech, Greek, Italian, Polish, Romanian). We'll publish them as they arrive.

Guidelines

• Guidelines