EFA Coordinators’ Meeting Goal 5: Gender Equality EFA Coordinators’ Meeting

Reporting Back on Goal 5: GENDER EQUALITY Like ECCE, our group discussed the goal of gender equality in an interactive format A technical note on 5 categories was shared. Procedures were shared: 4 flip charts were put up on the wall: Progress, Issues and challenges, Good Practices and Priorities: Delegates asked to use colored cards and post up key points under each category on the wall.. so country teams could actually walk around and visually understand national pictures.

Our Group 9 countries participated in the discussion (Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Tonga) Others Present: TWG members: UNICEF-EAPRO and ROSA, UNESCO, Save the Children Chair: Brunei Rapporteur: Malaysia

Issues and Challenges from Regional Overview We have to move from Gender Parity to true Gender Equality Boys are disadvantaged: However, When boys are disadvantaged, it becomes a national issue, but when girls are disadvantaged, it is seen as a ‘family/natural” issue. Gender Issues in the Teaching Profession: Feminization vs lack of female teachers; gender issues on leadership in education Gender analysis of curricula and textbooks Transitions from primary to secondary education; gender responsive counseling and guidance for girls and boys Gender responsive budgeting with equitable allocations of resources for gender equality

Progress and Trends to Date Progress towards gender parity indices is good in most countries. Gender issues incorporated in policies (e.g. Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Philippines, etc) Alternative programs and analysis are now progressing to developing measures to examine issues relating to boys (Cook Islands, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei) Addressing EFA through a discussion of gender equality

Issues and Challenges Some countries are grappling with moving from gender parity to gender equality in the region (Philippines) Boys’ dropping out is an issue Cultural stigmas even in the face of existing protective legislative measures (e.g. early marriage, female student pregnancy, domestic labour, etc). Gender is a cross-cutting issue and needs multisectoral coordination.

Issues and Challenges (Contd) Teacher Issues Lack of male teachers Teacher training Leave policies for teachers (long leave for maternity is noted as an issue: Discussions from different aspects from Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand) Reporting and monitoring, training replacements/substitute teachers, implementation of labour standards, protection of rights: Labor laws and CEDAW, CRC and UDHR implementation Facilities for girls and access to schools close to home remains a problem especially where girls are disadvantaged. School to work transition issues: What happens once girls leave school?

Good Practices Alternative school program for teenage boys at risk (Cook Islands; Brunei, Malaysia) Parenting education: Class for parenting and marriage in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Integrate gender awareness in curriculum and training: Cambodia, Brunei, Malaysia (textbooks primarily) Counseling programs for boys and girls (Cambodia) especially in armed conflict and emergency areas (Philippines: Mindanao girls and women) Dissemination of CEDAW reports and gender reviews (Cambodia), CRC (Philippines) Schools for boys and girls in prisons and juvenile detention centers (Brunei; Malaysia) Multi-ministerial coordination to tackle issues beyond education sector domains E.g. Cambodia: Min of Social Welfare, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education works closely on HIV/AIDS and gender. Gender committees from National, sub national up until school level (School principal, Commune council)

Priorities Promote the status of the teaching profession to ensure gender balance Overcome dropout rates for boys from secondary and upper secondary levels Ensure gender-sensitive female leadership and decision-making in education Promote gender sensitive financing and influencing allocations in budget for gender in education Need for more reproductive health education; and education facilities for pregnant teens Enforce legal instruments (CEDAW; CRC) and help governments translate and legislate based on these instruments for gender equality in education.

“We are now ready for gender equality!” Message from the Group “We are now ready for gender equality!”