From Afghanistan to Iceland
Around the Globe brings you international news about injustices and workers’ rights. If injustice exists anywhere, it exists everywhere.
New report highlights global teacher shortage
On the International Day of Education, Education International (EI) launched a new report providing analysis on the state of the teaching profession worldwide. The report draws on data from 121 countries. Findings showed a severe shortage of teachers across all levels of education, particularly in special education, STEM subjects and secondary teaching. The report also highlighted the working conditions and wellbeing of teachers, with teachers facing high levels of stress brought on by administrative burdens, large class sizes, emotional demands, and unsupportive working environments.
“This report demonstrates that teacher shortages are both a global crisis and a reversible challenge. Low pay, excessive working time and intensity and poor career progression are just some of the factors which are leading to teacher attrition,” said David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International.
The Year of Women: Iceland
Iceland is often cited as a global leader in gender equality, with women consistently holding high-level positions in politics and business. Unions and progressive organisations in Iceland have declared 2025 as ‘The Year of Women’. 2025 marks 50 years since women in Iceland made history with a nationwide strike that saw 90% of women walk out of their jobs and refuse to perform any domestic duties. Fifty organisations are joining forces to raise awareness of gender inequality with the Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASI) taking the lead.
Generation of girls robbed of their future: Afghanistan
Renowned global activist for girls’ education, Malala Yousafzai, delivered the keynote address at the Muslim World League’s international conference on girls’ education hosted in Islamabad in early January 2025. Addressing Muslim leaders from around the world, Malala said, “in Afghanistan, an entire generation of girls is robbed of their future. The Taliban-ruled country is the only one in the world where girls are completely barred from education”. Afghan leaders did not attend the conference.
Since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban regime has systematically eroded women’s rights in Afghanistan, implementing a series of repressive measures. These include banning teenage girls from education and restricting women’s access to employment.
Halt on US foreign aid causes chaos and confusion
A recent decision by the US government to suspend foreign aid has sparked widespread chaos, confusion, concern and debate. The move has far-reaching implications, potentially impacting millions of people around the globe. Facing the chop are clinics at refugee camps on the Thai-Myanmar border, life-saving programs to treat malaria and HIV as well as landmine clearance. In addition, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will face crippling job losses, service disruptions and operational shutdown.
Union Aid Abroad APHEDA, the global justice organisation of the Australian union movement, said: At President Trump’s inauguration last week, one of the first directives he gave was to issue a ‘Stop Work Order’ for 90 days on the overseas aid programs managed by US AID…. The impact is sweeping for the world’s most vulnerable people. At worst, many more people will die as a result of this decision, at best, inequalities in the world’s poorest countries will increase. This impact has already begun…These directions are a deep threat to equality between and within poorer countries – and ultimately undermine stability, peace and security. As unionists we stand for inclusion and solidarity as a pathway to global justice.