GENDER & EDUCATION

Gender parity in education Equal participation of both sexes in different levels of education A quantitative concept

Gender equality in education The achievement of equal outcomes (length, teaching, learning achievements, job opportunities, earnings…) A qualitative concept

EFA Goal 5 Eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and achieving gender equality in education by 2015, with a focus of on ensuring girls’ full and equal access to and achievement in basic education of good quality already missed

GPI, GER, NER Gender Parity Index GPI Gross enrolment ratio GER Net enrolment ratio NER GMR 2011: Table 1:8 p 73 Table 5 p 302

How to achieve Gender parity? Attendance: Economic incentives Female facilitators/homework assistants Alternative education for out-of-school girls Compensatory courses/summer schools for girls in science and math safe hostels for girls sex segregated classes and schools Schools closer to the community Safe transport Corporal punishment prohibited Sanitation facilities space for girls’ play, sports and recreation

Curricula Regular revisions of curricula and textbooks (gender-sensitive) flexible relevant curricula for girls Specific experiments, projects and programmes for girls Sex education combatting patriarchal attitudes and foster sexuality founded on love and responsibility

School environment Studies teacher-student and student-student relations gender awareness-raising and training for male and female Students and teachers jointly analysing gender stereotypes in classroom activities, textbooks and curriculum Special measures for recruitment of female teachers

Sociocultural and socioeconomic context Local and regional commissions Parental education and community awareness programmes Media Advocacy and campaigns employment opportunities school programmes for teenage mothers Health education (early pregnancies) School fees and other costs School lunch

Legislation and policies Constitution, national policies and strategies, other legal measures No marriage before 18!

Relationships poverty – schooling - gender Poverty – family level -Costs too high -Child labour Poverty – country level -Schools are too few -Low quality Result: children do not go to school

cont Cultural practices are obstacles -In society: male leaders lower marriage age social interaction between boys-girls discouraged roles at home -Result: no incentives for girls to attend or perform well in school

cont -At labour market: Jobs are reserved for males Discrimination Less earnings Result: benefits of schooling for girls are perceived less

cont At school level: Male teachers Sanitation Harassment Long journeys Result: School for girls considered inapprpriate or even dangerous

cont -At family level: -Gender division of labour -Girls spend more time on household -Girls move to husband’s family Result: schooling of sons are favoured

Conclusion Cultural practices (customs, traditions, circumstances) lead to Fewer girls than boys attend school Girls’ learning outcomes lower than boys (?) Gender disparities will remain in education even when poverty is reduced unless measures to address cultural practices also are addressed

Gender equality in education – rights to, within and through education Rights to education: low enrolment and access in societies with adverse cultural/social norms: -Gender roles in households -Women in homes -Patrilinear principles of inheritance and descent -Patriarchal structures of authority -Women into husbands’ families -Women economically dependent -Son preference Gender inequality in education is just one more aspect

Rights to education: low enrolment and access in poor societies -Child labour Paid or unpaid – many in harmful jobs Most in farms and households (not counted) Girls outnumber boys Not always affect school attendance Main reason for drop out Both boys and girls study more and work less with educated mothers – decision on spending in housholds -Urban - rural divide Hardly any gender gap in urban settings

Rights to education: low enrolment and access in poor societies -Costs -School places - distance -Quality -sanitation -Content (example of Iran)

Rights within education Gender based violence in schools: sexual abuse, rape, corporal punishment, bullying, physical and verbal assault or threat, touching, use of students for labour, The teacher’s behaviour/role crucial Everyday classroom practices Textbooks and curricula – ignorance, unawareness, avoidance Women teachers role models Social norms can change

Rights through education = achieving equality outcomes Girls perform much better as GPI changes and quality increases Women are more unemployed Study for jobs in education and health (men for governance, finance, banking) Inequalities and disparities in labour market