From 15-21 October, educators from Bulgaria, Türkiye, Portugal and Spain gathered in Portugal for the MentorScape Learning, Teaching and Training (LTT) Programme — a five-day intensive training designed to strengthen teachers’ capacity to recognise and reduce bias in primary education.
Bias, often unconscious, influences classroom expectations, interactions, and student achievement. MentorScape equips teachers with the skills to identify these patterns and introduce inclusive strategies that ensure fair opportunities for every young learner. The LTT brought together committed teachers who will now act as mentors within their schools, spreading knowledge and supporting colleagues in building more equitable learning environments.
Across the week, participants engaged in hands-on workshops, collaborative discussions, and reflective exercises covering four key themes:
Day 1 – Understanding Bias
Teachers explored how stereotypes and assumptions influence classroom decisions and student experiences.
Day 2 – Self-Reflection and Awareness
Using tools such as the Harvard Implicit Association Test (IAT), participants examined their own beliefs and biases in a safe and supportive environment.
Day 3 – Inclusive Classroom Strategies
Educators tested practical and classroom-ready activities that promote representation, fairness, and student engagement.
Day 4 – Mentorship Skills
Teachers developed peer-support and observation techniques, enabling them to guide colleagues through reflection and curriculum redesign.
Day 5 – Moving Forward
Participants created personalised Mentorship Action Plans to implement in their schools and received certificates acknowledging their new role as inclusion ambassadors.
The training highlighted a key message: while every teacher has biases, awareness and teamwork can transform school cultures. With strong motivation from all participants, MentorScape continues to foster a network of educators committed to inclusion, equity, and sustainable change in European classrooms.
The LTT marks a significant step forward in the project’s mission to make bias-free education a reality — not only in the participating countries, but as a model for broader European collaboration.
