Through projects that connect schools, teachers and institutions, GIZ helps make vocational education a space of equal opportunities for girls and boys.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental value of the European Union, but also a key component of GIZ’s work. Through its projects, GIZ actively promotes gender equality and works to eliminate gender-based discrimination, recognizing that gender equality is essential for sustainable economic development. Special attention is given to the education sector, where gender-responsive vocational education plays a crucial role in breaking down stereotypes and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.
Every meaningful change begins with education—including the change that leads to gender equality. Through projects that connect schools, teachers and institutions, GIZ helps transform vocational education into a space of equal opportunities for both girls and boys. Through training, support and the exchange of experiences, teachers across Bosnia and Herzegovina learn how to identify and eliminate gender stereotypes, creating schools where every student can develop according to their abilities rather than societal expectations.
Gender-Responsive Vocational Education
To strengthen teaching staff and educational institutions, GIZ organizes continuous training programs for representatives of pedagogical institutes, ministries of education and teaching professionals. The first generation of participants, consisting of 50 attendees in 2021, has successfully applied the acquired knowledge in educational processes. Stanislava Matić, one of the participants, emphasized that the GIZ training enabled her to integrate gender equality principles into the revision of vocational school curricula, including the use of gender-sensitive language.
The second generation of participants, comprising 40 representatives from Tuzla and Una-Sana Cantons, completed training through five modules. The education focused on the importance of gender in education, recognizing and eliminating discrimination, and integrating gender equality into technical and vocational education. Participants also gained practical knowledge on creating gender-sensitive classroom environments and understanding the role of vocational education in reducing gender barriers in the labour market. These modules provided a foundation for significant changes that participants are already implementing in their educational institutions.
Majda Tolić, Advisor for Vocational Education and Labour Market Development at GIZ, points out that gender-based stereotypes remain present in society and unfortunately continue to shape the career paths of girls and boys. “Gender-responsive education can help redirect the labour market towards greater equality by enabling girls and women to acquire the skills and education necessary to access better-paid jobs. This approach benefits not only women, but the economy as a whole by reducing gender gaps in employment,” explains Tolić.
Statistics and Challenges of Gender Inequality
Data for the 2023/24 school year show that a total of 107,740 students attended secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of these, 58.78% were enrolled in technical schools and 17.69% in vocational schools, meaning that as many as 76.47% of students attend vocational education programmes. These figures raise important questions about the influence of gender stereotypes on career choices and future professional orientation among young people.
Lejla Gačanica, a trainer in GIZ educational programmes, emphasized that gender inequalities in education manifest themselves at several levels: through curricula and textbooks (the written curriculum), through the organization of educational activities and everyday school life (the hidden curriculum), and through the classification of professions as “male” or “female.” “It is extremely important to educate teaching staff about gender-responsive education and show them how equality can be integrated into everyday work. Training participants demonstrated great interest, and I believe they will be able to apply the lessons learned in their daily practice,” says Gačanica.
Breaking Stereotypes in Education
Gender-responsive education has a direct impact on reducing stereotypes in schools. Lejla Mehanović, a pedagogue at the Mixed Secondary School in Živinice, emphasizes the importance of empowering students to recognize and reject harmful gender norms. “More and more boys enrolled in traditionally ‘male’ occupations such as electricians, auto mechanics or welders come forward to discuss their problems, and many of them even cry. This demonstrates how important it is to create an environment where young people can freely express their emotions without fear of stigmatization,” Mehanović explains.
An increasing number of schools recognize the need to challenge gender stereotypes, particularly in vocational education, where the labour market requires competent and qualified workers regardless of gender. Majda Balvanović, a special education teacher at the same school, notes that there are no longer “male” and “female” professions in their institution. “Mechanical engineering technician was once considered an exclusively male profession, but today we have an equal number of boys and girls in this field. This is a direct result of changes in the labour market and educational initiatives such as those implemented by GIZ,” Balvanović highlights.
Gender equality in education is not only an issue concerning girls and women—it is a transformation that empowers society as a whole. By recognizing and eliminating stereotypes about professions and social roles, the education system can become more inclusive and effective. Through continuous teacher training and the promotion of gender-responsive education, equal opportunities are ensured for all students, regardless of gender. Through its SEDEP programme, GIZ remains committed to this goal, supporting long-term positive changes in the education system and society as a whole.
