Taskforce to eliminate gender inequality in education

A taskforce has been set up to tackle gender stereotyping in education in Scotland.

The Gender Equality Taskforce in Education and Learning will be jointly chaired by 17-year old Razannah Hussain and Education Secretary John Swinney.

It will work with education, youth and equalities experts and the Scottish Government to improve gender equality from early years through to secondary school.

It will develop a strategy during the next 12 months bringing together new recommendations alongside actions already being taken to eliminate gender inequality in education and learning.

At present, female pupils consistently outperform males at school and in gaining entry to further and higher education, however more males stay in work and there is a gender pay gap of 15%.

Statistics also show that at Higher level female pupils are more likely to study subjects like art and design, health and food technology, and childcare and development, whereas male pupils are generally more likely to study STEM subjects.

Education Secretary John Swinney said: “Greater equality in education and learning gives everyone the same opportunity to succeed, and helps ensure a more robust and fair workforce while tackling the gender pay gap. We know young women and girls are significantly more likely to be disadvantaged by gender inequality while at school, leading to issues later in life, and the taskforce will help inform how we reduce the impact of this.

“We are making good progress with initiatives already underway to address gender imbalance in key areas, but there are always areas in which we can do more and do better to ensure that gender equality is embedded in education, so its benefits are felt by individuals in early years settings, at school, and in the world of work.

“The expertise and experience represented on the taskforce, including the voice of recent school leavers, will ensure it delivers a cohesive strategy identifying where gaps still exist and how we can build on successes to tackle the root causes of inequality in education.”

Razannah Hussain, Gender Equality Taskforce Co-Chair, said: “The taskforce’s ambition – to ensure that girls and young women have a gender equal experience of education and learning – is a fundamental part of achieving a gender equal Scotland, which will benefit everyone. It is essential that young women like me, and the others on the Taskforce, have direct input in this way. Developing policy informed by lived experience is the best way to create a fairer Scotland.”

 

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