-
.
- Русский
As President of the Committee for Gender Equality in Employment and Vocational Education and Training (EIF), I am delighted to be with you today, at today's award ceremony for the students of Primary, Secondary General and Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training schools.
Our Committee, realizing the important role of education and education in general, in close cooperation with the Pedagogical Institute, and in particular the Interdepartmental Gender Committee of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, every year conducts a competition for students, each time selecting topics related to various aspects of the principle of gender equality.
Undoubtedly, education is one of the most important, if not the most important, weapon we have in our hands to promote gender equality, since through proper education and guidance, gender stereotypes and perceptions, as well as socially shaped gender roles, can be gradually eliminated.
Modern pedagogical practices aim to form citizens free of stereotypical perceptions and discrimination of any kind, while also acting as an important measure to prevent delinquent behaviour and manifestations of hatred towards vulnerable groups of the population. In the area of gender equality, it is important that children are informed from an early age so that they are able to be aware of the impact of stereotypes in society, but also so that they can be free from outdated perceptions.
This year, students from our schools were asked to describe a school environment in which all children are treated equally regardless of their gender, have equal opportunities and rights and feel protected and free from discrimination.
The aim of the competition is to inform and raise awareness among children about the existence of gender inequalities, stereotypes and discrimination in school life and how these can be deconstructed to ensure equal opportunities. Each child can, through his/her own thoughts and reflections, portray what he/she believes to be the ideal.
Although the competition focuses on children, I must say that every year, through the children's exhibitions, we learn along with them, since the innocence and empathy of children and young people teaches us and gives us the strength to continue fighting for a better future. Undoubtedly, our young people are the future of our country and we rely on them.
Dear children,
Today's award ceremony is dedicated to all of you who participated in the competition. You are the protagonists of this event and you should feel happy and proud. On behalf of the Committee for Gender Equality in Employment and Vocational Training, we congratulate you, first and foremost for your excellent ideas and thank you for participating in the competition and for being here to receive your prize. We would like to thank all the teachers and all the educators who helped the children, with their entries in the competition, and the parents/relatives who accompanied them here today. Enjoy your children!
I would be remiss if I did not mention the valuable help of Ms. Hadjikakou and the members of the Interdepartmental Gender Committee of the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, for the excellent cooperation we had this year as well. Thank you to all of them. And of course, thanks to the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth for the support to this competition, which has become an institution, and to the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance for his support to our Committee and for the gifts for the winning students.
(MB/SX)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
