Promoting gender equality in education in Asia-Pacific UNESCO Bangkok An overview of selected tools and activities By Adrien Boucher Gender Focal Point Network Training 1 December 2011

Contents Gender Equality in Education at UNESCO Bangkok Networks and partnerships Development of generic tools Wider public awareness and advocacy

Challenges for achieving gender equality in education in Asia-Pacific Vast region with context-specific disparities There is a common thinking that “we don’t have gender equality issues” because many countries have achieved or are close to achieving gender parity in basic education. However, achieving gender equality is more than just having equal numbers in access, etc. Illiteracy rates are generally higher for women. In some countries, disparities are at disadvantage of boys. Etc.

1. Gender Equality in Education programme Organized under the Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL) Main strategies for action: Advocacy and policy dialogue Training Research Networking and partnerships Institutional analysis and capacity-building

2. Networks and partnerships GENIA: Gender in Education Network in Asia-Pacific UNGEI: UN Girls’ Education Initiative - East Asia-Pacific

Gender in Education Network in Asia-Pacific (GENIA) Network of Focal Points in MOEs, created in 2002 Key activities: Thematic training for GFPs On-the-job mentoring and technical support to GFPs to mainstream gender in their ministries Publication of advocacy brief series Support research on gender equality issues in education 14 members: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam Challenges: lack of regular face-to-face meetings, language

Partnership with Main activities in 2011: Advocacy Lesson plan for the Global Action Week in 21 languages Drawing contest / calendar Joint statements during international days E-postcards for World Teachers’ Day Knowledge generation Study on the school-to-work transition with a gender perspective Study on boys’ low performance in the region Knowledge sharing and management Through the UNGEI website (hosted by UNGEI/UNICEF New York) With a quarterly newsletter (theme of next issue: migration)

3. Development of generic tools GENIA toolkit Advocacy/Policy briefs

GENIA toolkit Initially produced in 2003 for the GENIA Focal Points (in MOEs) and later revised (latest revision: 2009) Translated and adapted in several countries across the region 25 tools: Part 1: Tools for raising gender-awareness Part 2: Tools for a gender-responsive educational environment Part 3: Tools for gender-responsive educational management http://www.unescobkk.org/education/gender/resources/genia-toolkit/

Gender Advocacy Briefs (1) Single-Sex Schools for Girls and Gender Equality in Education Strong Foundations for Gender Equality in Early Childhood Care and Education Education in Emergencies: The Gender Implications Getting Girls Out of Work and Into School The Impact of Women Teachers on Girls’ Education Mother Tongue-based Teaching and Education for Girls Providing Education to Girls from Remote and Rural Areas Impact of Incentives to Increase Girls’ Access to and Retention in Basic Education

Gender Advocacy Briefs (2) Role of Men and Boys in Promoting Gender Equality A Scorecard on Gender Equality and Girls’ Education Asia in 1990-2000 Girls, Educational Equity and Mother Tongue-Based Teaching Gender-Responsive Life Skills- Based Education Gender Issues in Counseling and Guidance in Post-Primary Education Gender Responsive Budgeting in Education Gender Issues in Higher Education Removing Gender Barriers to Literacy (to come) Gender Issues in Physical Education and Sport (to come)

4. Wider public awareness and advocacy Gender Wire Photo/drawing contests and calendars Videos

Gender Wire Monthly issues since January 2011 Provides links to: news, activities, publications, videos, funding opportunities, good practices, etc. Designed under TYPO 3 Distribution: SYMPA mailing list, website, Facebook, Twitter 600 subscribers (as of Nov 2011): UNESCO staff, partners in UN agencies, NGOs, etc. In Asia-Pacific and beyond To subscribe: send us an email at gender.bgk@unesco.org http://www.unescobkk.org/resources/e-library/newsletters/gender-wire/

Contests and calendars Photo contests organized since 2006 by UNESCO In partnership with UNGEI since 2009 1st drawing contest in 2011 with 3,000 entries from 24 countries Launched at the Global Action Week with a lesson plan for teachers Partners/distribution: FOs, NatComs, ASPnet, UNGEI, GENIA, website, Facebook, Twitter http://www.unescobkk.org/education/gender/advocacy/ungei-drawing-contest-2011/

Video: Invest in Girls’ Education Produced in-house with limited resources In collaboration with UNGEI partners Using regional languages Launched on International Women’s Day 2011 http://www.unescobkk.org/resources/multimedia/video/invest-in-girls-education/

Thank you! Contact: Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All (APPEAL) UNESCO Bangkok 920 Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel. +6623910577 ext.361 Fax. +6623910866 aa.boucher@unesco.org / gender.bgk@unesco.org http://www.unesco.org/bangkok/gender