Abstract:

In the following contribution, we will present the results of a survey conducted by university educators and researchers at two pedagogical faculties in the Czech Republic. This study focused on verifying non-stereotypical gender information and experiences of students that subsequently influenced their conscious and informed decision-making regarding the study program in special education and the future profession of a special education teacher. The research revealed that the decision to choose a field of study or a professional path is motivated not only by the abilities, prerequisites, and interests of the students themselves but also by other factors, particularly the influence of family and immediate surroundings. In the Czech Republic, horizontal segregation in the labor market persists, with girls being primarily motivated to study pedagogical disciplines, leading to a high feminization of the entire educational sector. The project supported by the European Social Fund, titled Special Educator: Inspiration for Choosing a Profession (reg. no. CZ.03.01.02/00/22_020/0000873), during which this survey was conducted, aims to identify predictors of choosing both the study and professional field of special education. Based on the insights derived from the project, the goal is to propose perspective measures in both higher education and practice that contribute to achieving a balanced representation of both genders among future professionals in the field of special education.

Keywords:

Special education teacher, gender segregation, professional decision-making, predictors of study choice.