The March meeting of EIS Council was held as the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia continued to dominate global events. President Heather Hughes opened the meeting by condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and expressing solidarity with Ukrainian people and in particular, teachers, educators, lecturers, pupils and students. Council approved a decision to make a £50,000 donation to the EI solidarity fund which aims to support refugees, particularly children, displaced by the ongoing war.

President-elect Andrene Bamford delivered the report of Executive Committee, advising Council that regular meetings of the strategy committee would be held to take forward the campaign for a 10% pay increase for the year 2022-2023. Ms Bamford reported on the first meeting of the Digital Review Working Group, which had agreed to purchase video conference facilities to support hybrid meetings (in person and remote) in the future. She also highlighted the launch of the national EIS Manifesto for the Scottish parliament elections which was published on the morning of Council. Local versions were also being tailored to support local campaigning on key issues, said Ms Bamford. See pages 15-18 for more on the EIS Manifesto.