The conference in Prague provided the opportunity of an interdisciplinary approach on the condition and formation of women in the educational systems in Europe: an analysis from a class and gender point of view. It took place on 14 and 15 March and gathered about fifty persons coming from eleven countries of Europe.
Analysis of the place given to women’s formation in the historical Finnish, Spanish and Czech context pointed the narrow relation between the women’s conditions and the role of the State, of its rules of power and its laws.
The relation between research and sciences underlined the persistence and the difficulty for women to have access to high professional levels. Budgetary cuts, particularly in Belarus, where there is no more free access to secondary school, representing a supplementary obstacle for popular classes and women.
Pedagogical approach on gender education in schools was the opportunity to know practical experiences. Testimonies of tests existing in France and Italy showed the difficulty to change these things.
Indications from ministries and also the work made by the specialised staff against the schools which recommend reflection and make a didactic pedagogy of gender meet political and ecclesiastical adversaries who succeed to consider gender education as totalitarian propaganda.
Interventions by speakers and women being there underlined parity between women and men despite the last century conquests, is not a reality yet. Patriarchy changed its face but is still present and strengthens in the crisis. Religions increase these phenomena and stereotypes are still anchored in the society.
Globalization determines the youth’s formation and the kind of research.
Managing of schools is more and more present and obeys to the markets’ demand. It is necessary to go from the competences theory for competitiveness to formation for life and citizenship, for a constructive and respectful dialogue between women and men, of all cultures and nationalities.
Education must be free along the whole formation from nursery school to adult age. Women must be able to accede, according to their wish and interest, to all formations they wish and, for that, a radical thinking change of society is necessary.
This change is necessary all over Western and Eastern Europe.
It is also necessary to reform the working world by reducing the weekly working time (30-35 hours) without change of salary: this could reduce unemployment and precariousness caused by the EU policy.
Understanding experiences in different European countries, comparing opinions and proposals allowed finding common points for women in the education and in the formation field. They are conditions which have consequences in the social, political life and in the working world.
To build a critical alternative is necessary.
Find the online publication "Education seen through women’s eyes" (pdf, 29 MB) – released in May 2016 – on the right.
For the conference programme click here.