Sub-regional workshop on gender and diversity opens

A three-day training workshop on school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) has opened Accra.

A statement by Ms Cynthia Prah, the National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre and copied to Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the workshop is being attended by 45 representatives from the Education Ministries and other educational institutions from Ghana, Togo, Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire.

It seeks to increase participants’ understanding of SRGBV and to strengthen their capacities on how to integrate SRGBV in school curriculum especially at the primary and lower secondary levels.

The workshop organised by UNESCO, in partnership with the National Commission on UNESCO of the Ministry of Education, is on the theme: “Gender and Diversity in Classroom Activities.”

A policy paper on SRGBV issued by UNESCO and partners at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York in March indicated that SRGBV is a global concern because it prevent children, especially girls, from exercising their right to a safe, inclusive and quality education.

Despite the realisation however, not much, in terms of policy directions, has been done to reduce its prevalence.

Participants attending the workshop are therefore expected to gain increased knowledge and understanding of SRGBV to be able to train teachers and other educational actors in their countries to integrate activities on diversity and gender into their lesson planning.

Mr Tirso Dos Santos, the Director of UNESCO Ghana, said gender equality in the world of education is "crucial if we are to empower and transform the lives of young people".

He said UNESCO and partners would continue to work to ensure a “non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all” as indicative in the post-2015 development agenda.

Mr Asare Apollonious, the Programme Officer in Charge of Science of the National Commission on UNESCO, under the Ministry of Education, commended the UN on its global initiatives in promoting global citizenship and the development of individuals who are becoming critical thinkers.

He recounted the need for educational institutions to critically think through issues of diversity and gender education, especially in Africa where the issues are usually relegated to the background.

He said the workshop would therefore help countries affected to be open to the happenings of the globalised world.

Ms Joanna Herat, the Senior Project Officer of the Health and Global Citizenship Education Section of UNESCO, emphasised the relevance of the workshop and the significance of the participants’ responses on reviewing the Global Guidance on SRGBV draft report in order to improve its quality, assess its practicality and relevance to the countries and institutions present.