Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions about Gender Equality

Abstract

Teachers are the agent of social change. For teachers, promoting gender equality is not a question of opinion, but a requisite responsibility. The present study aims to examine the B.Ed. trainee students’ perception of gender equality. It followed a descriptive survey design for which one self-made questionnaires was used as the tool and focused group discussions arranged for qualitatively perspective. Total 136 B.Ed. trainee students was taken as sample from Aliah University and WBUTTEPA of Kolkata, West Bengal. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis was done. It is found the B.Ed. trainee students have average level of gender equality perception irrespective of their gender, place of residence stream, types of family. There exist no significant differences in the perception level of gender equality among the students from different categories such as gender, discipline, residential status and although there exist significance positive differences in between family types. Based on this study, guidance and suggestions may be provided to enhance students’ awareness, knowledge, understanding and competencies in relation to gender equality and to encourage student engagement in a global sustainable development. This study will give a direction to the management and administration for endorsing a favorable environment where seeds of human rights, gender equality, social justice can be sown.