Focussing on Equal Rights in Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper argues that there is a renewed emphasis on equal rights globally, and that teacher education is of central importance in the sensitisation—or ignorance—of children and communities with regard to social justice. Equal rights is distinguished from equal opportunities, with a list of international rights and freedoms given. Research into teacher education is analysed, showing that there has been neglect of social and equity concerns in favour of technical competences or individualistic behaviourism. Three linked areas of concern for equal rights are discussed: entry to teacher education, the after‐effects of teacher education, and the process of training itself. There are grave implications for the official and the hidden curriculum of the training institutions, particularly in times of overall shifts towards market‐based educational ideologies and tighter control of teacher education.