The Role of Gender in Promoting Education in the Development Process
THE ROLE OF GENDER IN PROMOTING EDUCATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Abstract
Gender and gender considerations are crucial in modern development and the omission of gender in any plan, programme or activity is detrimental to the achievement of any set goals. In the same vein, gender has an important role to play in promoting education in the development process. Gender equality is central to sustainable development and the broader goal of gender equality is a societal goal to which education and all other institutions must contribute.
The paper first gives the definition of gender and the concept of education in the development process and then examines the role of gender in promoting education in the development process, analyses the challenges and then opportunities of gender in promoting an educational responsive society. Brief conclusions are made at the end of each section before the final conclusion is made. The paper contends that meaningful development will be attained by duly integrating gender in the education system and well as all other sectors and at all levels.
The Definition of Gender
According to the Uganda National Gender Policy gender is:
“the social and cultural construct of roles, responsibilities, attributes, opportunities, privileges, status, access to and control over resources and benefits between women and men, boys and girls in a given society”.
Gender has to do with the social division of roles, responsibilities, access to and control of resources between men and women, boys and girls. In the education sector, the Government of Uganda (GoU) has established specific measures in an attempt to achieve gender equality for example:
1. Affirmative action for women in gender to address imbalance between women and men
2. Making school and learning environment child friendly especially sanitary provisions for girls which is meant to encourage all actors in sustainable development
3. Affirmative action for girls in higher
Abstract
Gender and gender considerations are crucial in modern development and the omission of gender in any plan, programme or activity is detrimental to the achievement of any set goals. In the same vein, gender has an important role to play in promoting education in the development process. Gender equality is central to sustainable development and the broader goal of gender equality is a societal goal to which education and all other institutions must contribute.
The paper first gives the definition of gender and the concept of education in the development process and then examines the role of gender in promoting education in the development process, analyses the challenges and then opportunities of gender in promoting an educational responsive society. Brief conclusions are made at the end of each section before the final conclusion is made. The paper contends that meaningful development will be attained by duly integrating gender in the education system and well as all other sectors and at all levels.
The Definition of Gender
According to the Uganda National Gender Policy gender is:
“the social and cultural construct of roles, responsibilities, attributes, opportunities, privileges, status, access to and control over resources and benefits between women and men, boys and girls in a given society”.
Gender has to do with the social division of roles, responsibilities, access to and control of resources between men and women, boys and girls. In the education sector, the Government of Uganda (GoU) has established specific measures in an attempt to achieve gender equality for example:
1. Affirmative action for women in gender to address imbalance between women and men
2. Making school and learning environment child friendly especially sanitary provisions for girls which is meant to encourage all actors in sustainable development
3. Affirmative action for girls in higher
References: : Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, The Uganda Gender Policy, , 2007. Lubaale, G., Tertiary Institutions: Theory, Practice and Opportunities: Cases of Makerere, Kyambogo and Uganda Martyrs’ Universities of Uganda in Delivering Quality Education for Development, Lambert Academic Publishing, Saarbrucken, 2012. Lubaale, G., Higher Educational Programmes in the Development of a Nation, Lambert Academic Publishing, Saarbrucken, 2011. Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, Education for Sustainable Development: Uganda Implementation Strategy, Kampala, 2010. NAFRI, NAFES and NUOL, Improving Livelihoods in the Uplands of the Lao PDR., 2005 ILO Fact Sheet 5 – ILO –How to Tackle Gender Inequality, 2012. Government White Paper on the Education policy Review Commission Report, Education for National Integration and Development, Kampala, 1992. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Policy Brief 10, Universal Primary Education in Uganda, February, 2006. Muhwezi, K,D.. Gender Sensitive Educational Policy And Practice Uganda Case Study, Makerere University, Kampala, 2003. UNESCO, Understanding Education’s Role In Fragility, 2011.