Southeast European teachers’ unions call for greater public education funding

Education union leaders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo and Slovenia have called for greater investment in public education and better working conditions for teachers following a three-day regional forum in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Hosted by the Bulgarian Teachers’ Union under Education International’s Go Public! Fund Education campaign, the meeting brought together union representatives, education authorities, parliamentarians and representatives of Education International and the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE).

Discussions focused on teacher shortages, recruitment and retention, employment security and the role of unions in shaping education policy, according to Education International’s report published on Oct 20.

Teacher shortages and working conditions in focus

Participants identified common challenges across Southeast Europe, including insufficient education funding, excessive workloads, difficulties attracting younger teachers and concerns about job security.

The forum also examined how governments could implement recommendations from the United Nations High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession. These recommendations address the conditions needed to attract, support and retain qualified educators.

Yanka Takeva, president of the Bulgarian Teachers’ Union, argued that education should be treated as a strategic investment rather than simply a budgetary expense. She highlighted the need for policies that respond to technological change, demographic pressures and changing social needs.

Bulgaria’s experience with collective bargaining and dialogue between unions and the government was discussed as a possible source of lessons for other countries.

However, participants also highlighted the country’s difficulties in attracting younger teachers and addressing shortages, particularly in science subjects.

Unions seek stronger role in education policy

Jelmer Evers, European director of ETUCE, emphasised the importance of strategic planning and cooperation among unions facing similar challenges.

He pointed to the Bulgarian Teachers’ Union’s membership base and engagement with the government as examples of how organised representation can support negotiations over teachers’ pay, professional development and employment security.

Angelo Gavrielatos, manager of Education International’s Go Public! Fund Education campaign, said sustained advocacy and stronger unions were necessary to secure greater investment in teachers and public education.

Figures presented during the forum indicated that education systems worldwide face a shortage of 44 million teachers, including 4.8 million across Europe and North America, according to Education International.

Call for sustained investment in teachers

Participants stressed that investment in public education must extend beyond school infrastructure and include fair salaries, manageable workloads, secure employment, labour rights and opportunities for professional development.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen cooperation among education unions across Southeast Europe and continue campaigning for better-funded public education systems.

The forum was part of a wider series of regional meetings organised through Education International’s Go Public! Fund Education campaign.