From the 30th November to 2nd December 2018 a meeting of working group of the Educational Platform tilted: „Teachers 50+” took place in Gdańsk. It was organized by KK NSZZ "Solidarność" (Komisja Krajowa NSZZ "Solidarność") with the support of EZA and of the European Union.
17 representatives of workers’ organizations from eight European Union countries participated in the meeting: Poland, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Austria, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
The purpose of the working group was to discuss and exchange experience on the challenges faced by teachers 50+ in the era of ubiquitous digitalization and the role of trade unions in the area of necessary actions to support teachers 50+ more effectively.
The first presentation was tilted: „Teachers’ age diversity and new competences and skills of the 50+ teachers” was held by Lubica Cerna, the Chairwoman of NKOS. The second subject „Teachers 50+ in the times of challenges resulting from the ubiquitous digital world” was presented by Elena Nalbantova, Podkrepa, presenting the situation in Bulgaria and Catalina Bonciu, Cartel Alfa, talking about the situation of teachers in Romania. The third topic „Employment securityof the 50+ teachers. Closing the professional career” was presented by Diederik Brink, CNV, the Netherlands.
The common denominator of all presentations was the statement that introduced changes to education systems can not only apply to teachers 50+, but must include all teachers. The other point was that all teachers have to educate themselves because digital competence was not a choice anymore but a necessity nowadays.
Another part of the program was the workshop part where the task of the participants working in groups was to disscus on „Trade unions’ role in supporting teachers 50+ in the times of challenges resulting from the ubiquitous digital world” and to develope recommendations for the actions needed to effectively suport teachers 50+ in their needs, development and employment security in the times of challenges resulting from the ubiquitous digital world.
After presenting the results of each group’s work the most important elements for the recommendation were selected:
- The dates and issues of training for teachers should be set and adapted to individual needs.
- All teachers must be supported, not only teachers 50+, so that change projects should be created for all teachers.
- Creating a point / hour bank system with the assumption that the teacher decides when and how he wants to use the accumulated points / hours.
Finally, the need to identify the priorities of issues and problems in individual organizations, which the Education Platform should take care of to suport the trade unions, was established. The Platform members also obliged to take action in their country / organization resulting from the recommendation adopted at the meeting.