Ombudsman for Equality

Implementing equality in training and education

According to the Equality Act, authorities, educational institutions and other bodies arranging training and education shall provide equal opportunities for education and occupational advancement for women and men, and ensure that instruction, research and instructional material promote the fulfilment of the aim of this Act (Section 5 of the Equality Act).

This obligation applies to all authorities, educational institutions, employers and trade unions providing training.

Instruction, research and instructional materials shall promote equality. This means that instruction or instructional material may not be used to generate or sustain prejudices or stereotyped gender roles or divisions concerning family or working life. In this respect, the obligation to promote equality applies, in particular, to authorities responsible for general guidelines and development of instruction, and, ultimately, also to teachers.

The aim shall be, at all levels of education, to eliminate patterns of thought and to revise practices that lead to gender-stereotyped choices of training and occupation. This obligation applies to all forms and levels of education, and to guidance counselling and vocational guidance, in particular. In teacher training, attention shall be paid to how school practices and the conduct of teachers affect pupils' conceptions of occupations and training suitable for girls and boys.