The United Nations has made a call for the observance of International Women's Day (IWD) 2023 with the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” and girls are needed equality 'engaged in digital spaces' and provided 'opportunities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related fields By 2050, 75% of jobs will be related to STEM areas.'
However, NGOs like FAWE feel that schools in rural and remote areas are needed to made gender responsive.
It is heartening to know that a practical guide for making teaching and learning processes gender responsive has been published by the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) of Kenya has been published which states that the teaching and learning processes in the classroom play a big role in determining how well girls and boys participate in education and whether they stay in school and do well in their studies.
FAWE further holds that the gender responsive teachers understand and respond to the specific needs of girls and boys in the teaching and learning processes. And, they encourage equal participation and involvement of boys and girls in class activities and ensuring equal access to learning materials
It needs to be understood that what happens in the teaching and learning processes in the classroom is critical to the quality of education, and true quality cannot be achieved without addressing the gender dimension.
According to FAWE, the examples of gender responsiveness are as follows.
Empowering of girls to express themselves freely and confidently within and outside school.
Within the school, the functionary have a good level of gender awareness.
Teachers apply gender equality principles in the academic processes.
School environment encourages girls to bring out their full academic potential in all subjects particularly the sciences.
schools address the issue of needy girls through provision of bursaries.
Cases of sexual harassment have been drastically reduced.
Dropout rates are lower in schools focus on gender sensitivity
Gender responsive physical facilities are available such as separate toilets
Guidance and counseling services are available.
According to the literature of the NGO, FAWE’s mission is to work at continental, national and local levels, together with partners, to create positive societal attitudes, policies and practices that promote equity for girls in terms of access, retention, performance and quality by influencing the transformation of education systems in Africa. To put the goal into operation, FAWE has facilitated the establishment of National Chapters in 33 countries across the continent.
There is the need for such a movement in INDIA too for gender sensitivity and equity in education.
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