Teachers
Unia fights discrimination in education on the basis of the discrimination criteria for which it is competent. To this end, it works in conjunction with the education sector, public authorities and associations.
Equality starts at school
Teachers are important allies of inclusive schools. They often want to establish the principles of equality and equity in their classrooms. Unfortunately, they encounter many institutional and organisational obstacles, as well as obstacles in terms of resources, tools, skills and knowledge.
Unia discussed these obstacles in its 2018 Diversity in Education Barometer (only available in French or Dutch) In 2022, we highlighted their impact on pupils of foreign origin who are lagging behind at school in socio-economic monitoring (in French or in Dutch).
Belgium is one of the European countries with the highest rates of students that have to repeat a school year. And the repetition rate is higher among pupils of foreign origin. This has consequences for their future. Students who have repeated a year are less likely to go on to higher education, while a degree has a direct impact on the position they will later have in the labour market. Inequalities in the workplace therefore begin even before students begin working.
Unia is a partner of educational teams. We inform, support and train teaching professionals. We collaborate with them to find the best possible solutions to guarantee inclusive education.
Reasonable accommodations
Inclusive education means that all pupils and students are taught in the same schools, and that the infrastructure, teaching methods and materials, and teaching teams are adapted to suit everyone: pupils and students with disabilities, as well as newcomers, children or young adults from difficult families or socio-economic situations, and so on. The whole education system needs to be reconceived and reorganised to ensure that it is adapted to everyone. In the meantime, it is necessary - compulsory - to provide reasonable accommodations in certain situations.
The right to reasonable accommodation is guaranteed by the United Nations, the Constitution and our anti-discrimination legislation at all levels of education (primary, ordinary and specialised secondary, higher and social promotion).
The "Learning and studying with a disability (2023)" brochure (in French) aims to clarify the concepts of inclusive education and reasonable accommodation and to provide information on the implementation of reasonable accommodation in education in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. It gives concrete examples of accommodation and useful contacts, as well as describing the legal framework.
It is aimed at all those involved in education: pupils, students, parents, teaching and educational teams, headteachers, psycho-medical-social centres (C.P.M.S.), Pôles territoriaux teams, parents' associations, after-school care teams, reception and support services, reference persons in social promotion education, etc.
Unia looks for solutions
As part of the reform of the content of initial teacher training in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Unia has called for the fight against stereotypes and prejudice to be included in the basic teacher training programme (only available in French). The aim is to equip future teachers to better identify and combat their own prejudices, thus enabling them to guide their pupils in a more equality-based and positive way. They will strengthen their sense of competence in relation to the current challenges of managing diversity in the classroom.
Unia is also encouraging political initiatives by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to combat bullying at school. The aim is to train teaching teams and set up structural prevention and intervention mechanisms.
In higher education, Unia is a member of a steering committee of the Harassment Prevention Network in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. We emphasise the urgent need to protect students against harassment. We contribute to the discussions within this network and also bring to the table our expertise in terms of non-discrimination. In this way, we support those working in the field and politicians in their efforts to intervene fairly and appropriately in these delicate situations, giving priority to dialogue with all parties concerned and avoiding stigmatisation (of both perpetrators and victims).
Publications and educational material on inclusion
Want to know more about equal opportunities in education? Unia follows this issue closely and regularly publishes studies and brochures.
There are many teaching tools available, created by other organisations than Unia, to help education professionals deal with issues such as racism, sexual orientation, disability and religious or philosophical beliefs.
Promoting diversity and inclusion
Unia supports professionals who work to promote greater diversity and inclusion.
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