Putin backs Russian role in drafting new UNESCO recommendations on teachers’ rights
In short
President Vladimir Putin said Russia should contribute to drafting new international recommendations governing teachers’ rights and social guarantees, speaking at a meeting with winners of teaching competitions. He asked the foreign and education ministries to work on the document, which he said has not been updated since 1966. Kommersant reported the document in question is the UNESCO recommendation on the status of teachers.
Why it matters
The recommendations are described as an international normative act setting common guidelines for teaching work, so Russia’s participation would place it among the states shaping standards for teachers’ rights and social guarantees. The documents give no indication of a timetable or of which other countries or bodies are involved, so the practical effect is not yet clear.
Key facts
- Putin said Russia “can and must” contribute to preparing new international recommendations regulating teachers’ rights and social guarantees. [ 3 ]
- Putin said at a meeting with winners of teaching competitions that he would ask the foreign ministry, the education ministry and, if relevant, the science and higher education ministry to work on the issue. [ 3 ]
- According to Putin, the international recommendations for teachers have not been updated since 1966. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported the document is the UNESCO recommendation on the status of teachers, described as the first international normative act to set common guidelines for teaching work. [ 3 ]
- The recommendations cover school teachers at all levels, from preschool to secondary education, according to Kommersant. [ 3 ]
- State outlets TASS and RIA Novosti reported Putin’s support for the initiative and for Russia’s contribution. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- When and where the meeting with the teaching competition winners took place. The documents give publication times but do not state the date or location of the meeting.
- Which bodies or countries would take part in drafting the recommendations and on what timetable. The documents mention only Russian ministries being asked to work on the issue and give no schedule.
- The exact status and scope of the document being prepared. Only Kommersant identifies it as the UNESCO recommendation on the status of teachers; the other documents refer generally to recommendations on teachers’ rights.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports Putin saying Russia should contribute to preparing recommendations regulating teachers’ rights. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Putin supported the idea of preparing UNESCO recommendations on teachers’ rights. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports Putin supported Russia’s contribution, quoting him on the ministries involved and the 1966 date. [ 3 ]