As part of the MentorScape project, partners have completed extensive surveys with teachers in Bulgaria, Portugal, Spain, and Türkiye to explore the prevalence and nature of unconscious biases in education. The surveys revealed both common patterns and country-specific challenges, ranging from gender and socio-economic stereotypes to language and cultural barriers.
A striking similarity across all four countries was the recognition that subtle biases influence teacher expectations, classroom interactions, and student participation. Differences emerged in the types of biases most frequently reported — with language and accent bias being more prominent in Spain and Portugal, while socio-economic and gender-related perceptions were stronger in Bulgaria and Türkiye.
When compared to wider European data, these findings align with EU-wide challenges in building inclusive classrooms, reinforcing the importance of professional development for teachers. The survey results will directly inform the design of the upcoming Teacher Handbook, ensuring that practical strategies address real classroom realities. MentorScape’s next step will be to translate these insights into targeted training and mentoring approaches.
