Training on “Gender sensitivity in Teaching” at Suoi Bang Primary and Secondary School, Van Ho District, Son La Province

“How to teach students about gender equality when there are still too many gender stereotypes in family as well as in society?”

“If textbooks are not gender sensitive enough, what can teachers do to fix it?”

These are two of many concerns that teachers at Suoi Bang primary and secondary school share with us in the last days of May.

The training course “Gender sensitivity in Teaching” held at Suoi Bang primary and secondary school within the project “Happy School” has attracted the school’s executive board and more than 30 teachers. 

The course’s trainer is Mrs. Tran Hong Diep - Deputy Director of For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF) with more than 20 years of experience working in the fields of gender equality, women’s rights and children’s rights.

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After the training, 100% of participants agreed on the importance of gender-sensitive teaching in schools and were able to explain some basic concepts, including concepts of gender and sex, gender equality, gender stereotypes, gender norms, gender sensitivity, etc. All participants also shared that this was the first time they had practiced skills in detecting gender stereotypes and gender norms in textbooks, as well as in teaching.

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The school’s executive board and teachers discussed and identified the changes needed in teaching and learning to promote actual gender equality. For instance: 

• Stop reinforcing gender stereotypes and gender norms in career guidance and vocational training for students. No job is particularly assigned to a man or a woman. Everyone has the right to choose a career in accordance with their ability and desire. 

• When assigning tasks to students, both boys and girls will be encouraged to participate in all tasks such as carrying tables and chairs, cleaning toilets, cleaning boards, sweeping the yard; instead of assuming that female students are suitable for easy tasks and tasks that require meticulousness, ingenuity, and vice versa.

• Be willing to talk to parents about gender stereotypes and gender norms that still exist in the family and community, and the consequences of gender stereotypes on their children.

• If the textbook contains images and contents that are not gender-sensitive, teachers will encourage children to share and discuss to challenge gender stereotypes and gender norms, thus students will have a more  multi-dimensional perspective.

Let's take a look at some photos from the training course!