More than 400 teachers of the city are being trained from today, in the IES ‘Leopoldo Queipo’ in the activity ‘Cloisters that co-educate’, organized by the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports (MEFPyD).
As explained by the Provincial Director of Education in Melilla, Elena Fernández Treviño, this is a project that, for the first time, involves all the teachers of the educational centers in training in coeducation and has recalled that training in equality was already being developed since 2018 with the Schools for Equality program, focused on those responsible for equality of the centers, but now it has been wanted “to be more ambitious and extend the training to 100% of the teachers”.
Fernández Treviño, who has stressed the importance of this initiative promoted by the Educational Programs Unit (UPE Formación) and in coordination with the Coordination Unit against Violence against Women of the Government Delegation, has pointed out that inequality remains a tangible reality, with figures that show the precariousness of women’s work, the low representation in management positions or the lack of conciliation measures.
“Education in equality saves lives,” he said, arguing that work in co-education should permeate all areas of the school: from subjects to tutorial action or the use of non-sexist language.
During this week, the training will take place in four-hour sessions given by Laura Segura Sarompas, head of Equality of the Government Delegation, and by the expert Miguel Lorente Acosta. In September it will be completed with a second part by the Cadiwoman group and the training adds a total of eight hours and has been organized in several shifts to facilitate the attendance of all the teachers.
Participating in the full cloisters
The Head of the Coordination Unit against Violence against Women, Laura Segura, who has been in charge of providing the training today, has pointed out that this training responds to a deep conviction on the need to address equality and the prevention of gender violence from the educational level.
“The Coordination Unit has been working on prevention in all areas for years, but we believe that education is a fundamental pillar to eliminate inequalities and, in particular, the most extreme: violence against women,” he said.
Segura explained that until now the work had focused on those responsible for equality in the centers, but that it was necessary to “go further” and involve the entire cloisters. “It’s not just about good disposition. Teachers must be prepared, know how to face inequality, perceive it and have tools to combat it,” he said.
During the day, Segura has addressed contents focused on equality, the prevention of gender violence and the early detection of signs of violence, explaining how to act from the educational center. “We know that in each class there may be students who are experiencing situations of violence, either directly or in the family environment. Therefore, it is essential that teachers know how to detect, act, accompany and follow up,” he said.
The Head of the Unit highlighted the good reception of the teachers: “The response has been very positive. In most of the centers it has been voted in cloister and almost all have joined. Those who have not been able to participate for reasons of capacity will do so in future sessions.”
Laura Segura has stressed that the law obliges centers to work on equality and prevention of violence, but “it does not always apply.” Therefore, it considers it key that teachers are trained and prepared to build a co-educational school “where boys and girls grow up without gender stereotypes and are educated freely”.