Women in teaching: Understanding the gender dimension

Gender equality for teachers and representation that reflects the diversity of classrooms and communities are key to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

To commemorate International Women’s Day, this fact sheet spotlights the participation of women in the global education workforce. It shows that women are increasingly participating in the teaching profession but that they are less likely to participate in higher levels of education, especially tertiary education and positions of school leadership. Moreover, gender gaps remain unfavourable for women in many developing and low-income contexts.

Nevertheless, there are a number of measures policy-makers can employ to improve gender equality in and through teacher workforces around the world.