In a week when the New Zealand government is announcing budget cuts and when reductions in early childhood education funding have come into force, TEU national president Sandra Grey spent time with education workers from around the globe discussing the need for public investment in quality public education.

The key message out of Education International’s first Women’s Conference held in Bangkok, was that governments must invest in public services.

“Repeatedly conference delegates from both developing and developed nations expressed their dismay that governments were prepared to bail-out bankers and financiers, but at the same time are withdrawing funding for public services, ” said Dr Grey. “EI delegates felt that this meant the poor of the world were being made to pay for the on-going economic recession.”

The sentiment is set out in a statement about the access of women to education which will be presented by EI, the International Trade Union Council, and Public Services International to the UN Economic and Social Council at the end of this month:

“Investment in all quality public services is a key driver of development. As such, trade unions have grave concerns with the reductions to budgets supporting public services which governments have undertaken in response to the current economic crisis. These cuts are having a negative impact on the provision of quality public services which are central to eradicating poverty through the delivery of health care, education, and decent work for women. Investments in the public sector and in the social ministries charged with development, labour and gender equality should be increased not decreased in a time of crisis …”

Or as put more succinctly by conference presenter, Gloria Inés Ramiréz, Senate of the Republic of Colombia: “Another world is possible, another world is necessary!”