United in Diversity
Brussels, May 2011 Francis Huisman
CNV Onderwijs: an introduction
• Christian Education Union• 53500 members• All educational staff• All levels of education• Merger between Catholic and Protestant union• 65% of the members are women• Male members are older then female members
CNV Onderwijs: an introduction
Red line: women
CNV Onderwijs: an introduction
Main structures: 6 sectors
• Primary Education (61%) • Secondary Education (12%) • Vocational Education ( 5%)• Higher Education ( 2%)• Pensioners (19%) • Educational consultancy ( 1%)
CNV Onderwijs: an introduction
Special groups • School Principles• Education support staff• Special Educational Needs• Agricultural Education• Women• Youth (< 26)• Early retired due to health problems---------------------------------------------------------------• Gay & Lesbian• Cultural minorities
Project Diversity: cooperation between special groups
• Women• Youth (< 26)• Early retired due to health problems• Gay & Lesbian• Cultural minorities
Project for 1 year Standing Committee Network for
members
Diversity Policy: some aims
• Diversity is a lively policy issue within CNV-O• Stop the monocultural debat about integrationpolicy• Stop the obviousness of the mayority• An atmosphere for everyone to feel safe and
comfortable• Coping with differences and diversity with respect,
understanding and knowledge• Diversity enriches society• Diversity is an issue in the policypapers of CNV-O
Project Diversity: activities (1)
• Activities for all forms of diversity and / or for specific target groups
• Activities within the office of CNV-O and / or for members
• Activities for teachers / education staff and / or aimed at improving the quality of education
Project Diversity: activities (2)• Active participation in at least 5 congresses and events:
speeches and workshops• General Assembly May 2010: Break out session • Developing a fysical and a digital knowledge library• Digital Newsletter• Developing a guide for ‘diversityproof’ schoolpolicy and
personnel policy• All structures of CNV-O have a representative in the
Diversity Network• Helping sectors to involve diversity in their activity plans• Participating in national and international events
Diversity: good practices (1)
Regional network-meetings for women• Organised twice a year by a small group of 3
women members; almost selfsupporting• Each year one of them leaves, one new member;• Fixed scenario and programm; list of topics• All female CNV-O members in the region are
invited; they can introduce a collegue• 16:00 – 20:00 with light meal• Most succesfull events for many years
Diversity: good practices (2)
“Role of Social dialogue about the impact of intercultural dialogue in education on the professional development and the working conditions of education personnel”
EZA-seminar ‘Living together in a multicultural school’
www.cnvo.nl/livingtogether
Diversity: good practices (3) Break out session at GA: Tips• Specific training for target groups• A positive approach (enrichment) makes more people feel at
home at the Union• Start the positive approach with young children: respect,
disciplin, etc.• To achieve equality, sometimes you have to make some
more efforts than average• In articles and papers choose examples from minorities; tell
positieve stories about diversity • Focussing on general values of diversity leads to a stronger
impact