World Teachers’ Day 2011:  Teachers for Gender Equality

“Let us remind ourselves on this World Teachers’ Day that teachers are a powerful force to address gender injustices around the world, and that gender equality is not simply a women’s issue … it is everyone’s issue,” says EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.

IEU members celebrate World Teachers’ Day on FRIDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2011

This year’s theme is Teachers for Gender Equality seeks to:

·         Encompass equality between female and male teachers;

·         Demands access for girls to gender-sensitive and quality education: and

·         Highlights the contribution of teachers and education in overcoming gender stereotypes

Gender gap in Access to Education

While much has been achieved during the past 25 years of campaigning, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality.

There is still a gender gap in access to primary education across the world.  Despite an increase in primary school attendance in most countries across the world, the ratio of girls to boys in primary school enrolment in some countries remains low.  

The situation is worse for secondary school attendance with only 79 girls per 100 boys globally attending secondary school and in some countries female attendance is even lower (67 girls per 100 boys.)

There are also serious concerns regarding boys’ under academic achievement in countries such as Jamaica and the United States. 

The reasons for absence and dropping out of school are multi dimensional and require multi dimensional solutions.

The Gap between Policies and Reality

Yet, even where Governments have taken measures to ensure equality is enshrined into the policies and constitutions of their countries, these policies remain unimplemented and thus the goals for gender equality is unfulfilled. 

Despite policies on equal access to education, girls still struggle to access quality education;

Despite laws for gender equality in the labour market, women still face discrimination in recruitment, promotion and pay;

Despite equal access to politics, women are under-represented in political leaderships; and

Despite the existence of laws, women are still not effectively protected against violence and female trafficking.

Address the Inequalities in the Teaching Profession

For teachers to be good role models for gender equality for boys and girls, the inequalities within the teaching profession must be addressed.

This year, for World Teachers Day, IEU members are called upon to campaign for

·         Greater opportunities for women to hold leadership positions in schools;.

·         Greater recruitment of female teachers of science, mathematics and technology;

·         Equal pay and conditions for early childhood teachers; and

·         Greater recruitment of male early childhood and primary school teachers

All of this can play a key role in empowering girls and boys and enable a break through in the cycle of gender inequality.