T-SHIRT is implemented by 7 partners [Casa do Professor, XENIOS POLIS, CSI, University of Thessaly, INOVA, University of Bucharest, INNOVED] from 5 EU countries [Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, UK, Romania]. The project includes: 1. The T-SHIRT Courses for Teachers 2. T-SHIRT Guide and Methodology Package 3. T-SHIRT Digital Resources and Tools 4. National workshops in the 5 countries, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, UK, Romania; Final Conference in Portugal 5. Dissemination Results On the one side of argumentation, gender bias and inequity have remained extensive issues extended to one of the most important facets in our society: the SCHOOL EDUCATION sector. On the other side, education system is the context for an effecting change both on an individual and social level and it is a key institution that can minimize the differences between genders. Teachers are key- actors responsible for implementing this basic function of education and, they themselves are raised in societies that are stratified by gender; teachers act as carriers of the values and cultural codes of their societies and therefore their empowerment with pedagogies and tools towards gender issues ‘elimination’ is a necessity, through the provision on the one with effective training on how to tackle with the gender equality in their classrooms (via educational approaches to adopt a strategy combating gender inequality, raise awareness and proper sensitivity) and on the other, with additional materials and extracurricular activities targeting the gender equality sense of their students. In this context, emphasis must be placed on sensitizing key-actors in the education system to the importance of gender issues and on the fact that it is a long and painful process requiring not only learning of new perspectives but also the unlearning of old ones. Teachers need to undergo gender sensitive courses in classroom behavior and interaction with students, to be empowered on gender bias identification in the system and to be equipped with the proper mechanisms or learning/teaching materials on reacting against these. Additionally, they should empower their students with critical thinking by considering their attitudes, judging school text books, changing negative perceptions or concrete attitudes towards gender roles, all these from multiple perspectives and alternative dimensions. T-SHIRT addresses school community members, the teachers at primary education and subsequently, the students at primary education level (7-12); Its objectives are: a) to make teachers- as significant education key-actors -empowered on gender mainstreaming, gender equality issues awareness, gender competence building, gender equality goals promotion b) to contextualize for them the processes for addressing arising gender behaviors in the classrooms, genders cases in the school materials, gender attitudes on behalf of the students c) to give them the opportunities to be engaged in training procedures with high quality outcomes for their profession and their further knowledge base expansion d) to provide them with innovative pedagogical approaches and extra curriculum materials in regards with gender traditionality and disparities fight in the classroom e) to create and deliver innovative training digital tools- as tailored needs learning resources – taking advantage of the ICT context and digitizing the quality of learning/teaching content SHORT TERM RESULTS: -The teachers will have been reinforced with training for practical gender sensitivity knowledge & skills and strategies for structured ways of changing and developing students perceptions, behaviors, etc towards gender discriminations -The teachers will have been provided with resources and tools which will have enabled them to successfully deliver such practices for all their students promoting gender equality, and fighting issues of ‘traditional’ gender perceptions -The students at primary education will be given the chance to be engaged in meaningful practices and school activities towards gender awareness LONG TERM RESULTS: - A common pedagogic approach towards gender awareness and gender equality in school education across regional, national and European institutions/levels , through the sharing of best practices and high-quality resources will have been developed -An innovative example of how school education and school community training can be improved by embracing new technologies and online platforms The project covers a geographical ‘variety’ and different ‘degrees’ in the education approaches either concerning teachers training or the gender issues in the school education. Implementing such a project on gender mainstreaming at their primary education systems includes a transnationality necessity since it is an issue which ‘touches’ all of the countries and their educational context, refers to their different cultural perceptions and will contribute mutually through practices exchanges.
The project had short-term and long-term results that were categorized as follows: Short-term results: • Capacity building of teachers with training for practical gender sensitivity knowledge & skills and strategies for structured ways of changing and developing students' perceptions and behaviours towards gender discriminations; • Provision of resources and tools to enable teachers to successfully deliver gender equality practices for all their students and fight issues of ‘traditional’ gender perceptions; • Engagement of primary education students in meaningful practices and school activities towards gender awareness. Long-term results: • Development of a common pedagogic approach towards gender awareness and gender equality in school education across regional, national, and European institutions/levels through the sharing of best practices and high-quality resources; • An innovative example of how school education and school community training can be improved by embracing new technologies and online platforms; • Release of a freely accessible, sustainable bank of resources and tools for the continuous development of education, including systems, methods, training approaches for teachers, and teaching materials for students.
The project T-SHIRT was applied for to combat gender discrimination and promote gender equality in schools. The needs that were addressed in the T-SHIRT project were related to gender bias and inequity in the school education sector. It addresses a transnational needs since gender issues in education are relevant to all participating countries, each with their own cultural perceptions, and the project contributes mutually through the exchange of practices and networking. Overall, the project aims to empower teachers to address these issues and promote gender equality goals by providing them with training on gender mainstreaming, gender competence building, and innovative pedagogical approaches. The project also aimed to contextualize the processes for addressing gender behaviours in the classroom, gender cases in school materials, and gender attitudes on behalf of the students. Additionally, we wanted to provide teachers with innovative digital tools and extra curriculum materials to fight against gender traditionalities and disparities in the classroom. It also recognizes the transnational nature of the issue, involving partners from different countries to contribute mutually through practices exchanges and networking.