Eleven members of the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) travelled to Brazil last Monday to take part in Education International's (EI) Fourth World Congress, the largest teachers union federation in the world.

The Congress' theme, 'Education for Global Progress', will guide discussions on how teachers and the education sector can contribute to global progress.

The Bermuda contingent ? four delegates, two observers and five guests ? joined more than 1,400 others from over 150 countries and territories worldwide in Porto Alegre, Brazil, for the Congress, which lasts from July 22-26.

Defending quality public education, promoting the status and training of teachers, and safeguarding the right of girls, indigenous peoples and disadvantaged children to an education are top of the agenda.

The participants will specifically address three themes: education ? public service or commodity, the right to teach and learn, and the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers.

EI, created in 1993, represents 29 million educators. The organisation aims, among other things, to further the cause of teacher organisations by promoting the status, interest and welfare of teachers, and of defending their trade union and human rights.

Held every three years, the EI World Congress is the supreme governing authority of the EI, determining the policies, principles of action and programme of the organisation.

The BUT, formed in 1919, remains an active affiliate of the EI, and was previously affiliated with its 40-year-old predecessor, as well as the forerunners to that group.