Canadian experiences around teacher rights, working conditions and other issues linked to the delivery of equitable, quality public education are echoed around the world in a wide variety of cultures and contexts.
Canadian teachers and overseas partners share time, talent and experiences to extend professional and welfare services, implement projects and promote national education efforts that will make progress on poverty reduction and sustainable development.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation, through the commitment of Members, support of CIDA, cooperation with Education International and delivery of the CTF Trust Fund International Cooperation Program, makes it happen.
Canadian teachers believe that all children have a right to quality education. In many parts of the world, these rights are denied for reasons linked to poverty, conflict, social instability and inequality. This is a global challenge for the teaching profession.
Partnerships with teacher organizations in developing countries have been important to the work of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) for forty-seven years. Nearly 60 countries have benefited from direct cooperation, and many more participate in regional programming across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
Founded in 1920, CTF is a national alliance of provincial and territorial organizations representing nearly 200,000 elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada. CTF’s International Cooperation Program is planned and managed by the International Department, under the governance of the CTF Trust Fund. The main funding sources are CTF, its Member organizations, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), with in-kind contributions and volunteer services from Canadian teachers and overseas partners.
CTF International Cooperation Program goals
- Advancing the quality of education as a condition for poverty reduction and sustainable development;
- Addressing Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development; Goals by supporting and/or providing programs that respond to National Education Plans; and
- Strengthening access to basic education, particularly equitable, quality public “Education for All” (EFA) in selected countries.
The Program is implemented through the Key Program Areas of Capacity Building, Professional Development, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, HIV/AIDS, National Education Plans, and Engagement of Canadian teachers.
The CTF Trust Fund also manages the CTF International Aid Fund, which provides humanitarian assistance to teachers and their communities in times of crisis and natural disaster.
CTF membership in Education International (EI), and partnerships with the Global Campaign for Education and CIDA strengthen Canadian support for equitable access to basic education as a key factor in poverty alleviation and sustainable development.