OFFICIAL NAME
World Union of Catholic Teachers
Union Mondiale des Enseignants Catholiques
ACRONYM
UMEC-WUCT
ESTABLISHED
1951
HISTORY
UMEC-WUCT dates back to 1908 when the Presidents of the Catholic teachers’ associations of Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany launched the idea, at a meeting organised to deal with problems in education, of creating an international association of Catholic teachers. The project took shape in 1912 with the foundation of the Weltverband katolischer Pëdagogen (World Association of Catholic Teachers). Its work was interrupted by the two world wars, but began again in 1951 with the foundation, in Rome, by the leaders of national associations of 17 countries, of the World Union of Catholic Teachers. Previously recognised by the Holy See, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of the World Union of Catholic Teachers as an international association of the faithful on 18th October 2008. As an NGO, it has consultative status with the Council of Europe, Ecosoc, UNESCO and Unicef.
IDENTITY
UMEC-WUCT is at the service of the national Catholic teachers’ associations. It brings them together, coordinating their study and research work designed to bring the teachings of the Church into the world of education and the school; it fosters and supports the establishment of Catholic teachers’ associations throughout the world; it disseminates knowledge about initiatives and experiences with the religious, moral and vocational training of teachers, and in the field of the apostolate among teachers; it defends and advocates respect for the rights and the educational freedom of Catholic teachers. Its priorities are to create an educational system which involves parents, teachers and students, in order to give everyone proper responsibility within the educational community; to draft a "Teachers’ Charter" for every country, setting out the legal, social and service conditions of teachers, their rights and duties, their cultural and teaching autonomy, and the level of training required to exercise the profession.
ORGANISATION
UMEC-WUCT is governed by the General Assembly, made up of the delegates of the member associations, which meets every four years; the Council, which is elected by the General Assembly and comprises the President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, the Ecclesiastical Assistant and seven members representing UMEC-WUCT worldwide, which meets once a year; the Executive Committee, made up of the President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer, which meets twice a year, and is responsible for ensuring that the decisions of the General Assembly are implemented. Membership of UMEC-WUCT is open to full members, which are national or regional organisations of Catholic teachers; corresponding members, who are teachers working to create new teachers’ associations, and honorary members.
PUBLICATIONS
News - Noticias - Nouvelles, fortnightly bulletin online.
HEADQUARTERS
Union Mondiale des Enseignants Catholiques - World Union of Catholic Teachers
Clivo Monte del Gallo, 48
00165 ROMA
Tel. +39 06634651 - fax +39 0639375903
E-mail: umec@org.va, umec.wuct@gmail.com
