Mission statement:
To further the cause of organisations of teachers and education employees, to promote the status, interests and welfare of their members, and to defend their trade union and professional rights; To promote for all peoples and in all nations peace, democracy, social justice and equality; to promote the application of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights through the development of education and of the collective strength of teachers and education employees; To seek and maintain recognition of the trade union rights of workers in general and of teachers and education employees in particular; To promote the International Labour Standards, including freedom of association and the right to organize, to bargain collectively and to undertake industrial action, including strike action if necessary; To enhance the conditions of work and terms of employment of teachers and education employees, and to promote their professional status in general, through support for member organisations and representation of their interests before the United Nations, its specialized agencies and other appropriate and relevant intergovernmental organisations. To support and promote the professional freedoms of teachers and education employees and the right of their organisations to participate in the formulation and implementation of educational policies; To promote the right to education for all persons in the world, without discrimination, and to this end: to pursue the establishment and protection of open, publicly funded and controlled educational systems, and academic and cultural institutions, aimed at the democratic, social, cultural and economic development of society and the preparation of every citizen for active and responsible participation in society; and to promote the political, social and economic conditions that are required for the realisation of the right to education in all nations, for the achievement of equal educational opportunities for all, for the expansion of public educational services and for the improvement of their quality; To foster a concept of education directed towards international understanding and good will, the safeguarding of peace and freedom, and respect for human dignity; To combat all forms of racism and of bias or discrimination in education and society due to gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, religion, political opinion, social or economic status or national or ethnic origin; To give particular attention to developing the leadership role and involvement of women in society, in the teaching profession and in organisations of teachers and education employees; To build solidarity and mutual cooperation among member organisations; To encourage through their organisations closer relationships among teachers and education employees in all countries and at all levels of education; To promote and to assist in the development of independent and democratic organisations of teachers and education employees, particularly in those countries where political, social, economic or other conditions impede the application of their human and trade union rights, the advancement of their terms and working conditions and the improvement of educational services; To promote unity among all independent and democratic trade unions both within the educational sector and with other sectors; and thereby contribute to the further development of the international trade union movement.
Organizational structure:
World Congress, which meets every four years, elects a 26-member Executive Board, which meets every six to nine months. The Chief Executive Officers is the General Secretary, who is elected by Congress and reports to the Executive Board.