THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT 2014 Republic of South Africa, Johannesburg, 27 May 2014 Maclan Kanyang’wa Department of Journalism and Media Studies The Poytechnic University of Malawi 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

SYNOPSIS The approach extends the previous scope of mainstreaming gender into media training from formal curriculum to wider life-long learning curriculum, which includes training practicing journalists and leadership in national women empowerment initiatives. The multi-pronged approach is a good example of gender mainstreaming in media education because it facilitated a targeted speedy integration of gender issues into media practice using entry-points in universities, national women empowerment programmes and life-long learning opportunities.

OBJECTIVES By mainstreaming gender in the curriculum the department sought to contribute to the Malawi national agenda of attaining gender equality by focusing on achieving the following objectives: to increase the involvement of female students (including practicing journalists) in curriculum activities. to change the mindset of female students with regard to career opportunities and challenges to meet goal set in the Malawi Polytechnic Strategic Plan ( ) which seeks to address gender and crosscutting issues to inculcate a gender aware culture in media practice 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

BACKGROUND 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA Gender Links conducted a study where it established gender disparities in the teaching and learning of the media Subsequent study showed little gain had been made. The Department of Journalism and Media Studies responded by broadening the scope of intervention beyond the traditional classroom curriculum.

KEY ACTIVITIES 1. Traditional Curriculum  Recruitment and mentoring of female students  Training of Lecturers  Incorporation of Gender content into course outlines  Mainstreaming child rights into curriculum 2.Life-long Curriculum  Training of students on GL virtual resource centre  Student participation in 16-day of of Gender Activism  Partnership with other media training institutions to mainstream gender in media education 3.Leadership in national and regional programmes in women empowerment initiatives.  50:50 Campaign  Training in Gender sensitive reporting for practicing journalists  Training in sexual reproductive health rights for marginalised groups including LGBTI through media 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA Gender in mainstream projects Amount local currency (Malawi Kwacha) Amount in Rand Gender specific allocation Curriculum review for Blantyre International University and Malawi Institute of Journalism MK2, 600, :50 Media Task Force MK4,000, Training workshop on human rights and gender reporting context of development intervention Programme MK Mainstreaming of child rights MK TOTAL MK

CHALLENGES Bureaucracy is a challenge to effective integration of gender issues into the curriculum Some faculty members do not take issues of gender mainstreaming as a real concern (even female members of staff) 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

RESULTS: Women’s empowerment First Student to pass with distinction is female and many are on merit list 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

RESULTS: public participation Department involvement in BUI and MIJ curriculum review Department involved in child rights curriculum review

RESULTS Changes at the work place Gender equality in student enrolment Gender equality in departmental leadership Student dissertations

RESULTS: Outreach through the media

RESULTS Changes at household level Female student participation in recruitment seminars

RESULTS: Capacity building Training of lecturers

RESULTS: Changes at a policy level Staff members involved in drafting ATI Bill, Policy, Strategic plan and implementation plan

LESSON LEARNED AND INNOVATION It is possible to change current gender disparities in the media if deliberate efforts are taken to address them from knowledge institutions Collaboration and constant dialogue between the academia and civil society is key to progress in the fight against gender inequality and gender mainstreaming. Gender mainstreaming should not be confined to the classroom, the gender in media education should take cognisance of a board concept of curriculum that includes modes of life-long learning and direct interventions into national women empowerment programmes. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

LEARNING AND SHARING WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS PANOS: There is more to gender than just sex roles UNICEF: Gender and child rights are inseparable UNESCO: Willingness to fund curriculum review MIJ and Blantyre University- Given a window of opportunity media institutions are willing to mainstream gender ALL: together we can do more 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION Positively exploit changes in legal and national policy frameworks: Gender equality law is in force in Malawi (2013) UNIMA Strategic Plan (2012), like the Polytechnic, mainstreams gender as a cross cutting issues Formal integration of gender into curriculum during review due in 2015 Encourage student research in gender and the media Extend formalisation of gender-aware extra-curricula initiatives to BAJ students association Extension of media literacy to primary/secondary school curriculum Extension of media literacy to NGOs in context of Local Government elections 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

KEY PRIORITIES FOR 2014 Integrating gender and other rights into the programme document Coordinate formal curriculum review for the Bachelor in Journalism Programme Introducing a Masters Degree programme Enhancing leadership roles in national women empowerment initiatives 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA