1. Gender and Social Equity Group work
Policy recommendations
19-20 February 2008

2. System and policy indicators
Legal and policy frameworks for promoting gender equality in education have been articulated in most countries
Southeast Asian countries are signatories to CEDAW
Commitments to Beijing Platform of Action, MDGs, and EFA

3. System and policy indicators
Some countries have reviewed education from a gender perspective
No specific budget for gender but there is a definite budget for education
Variations in education spending among countries
Donor aid strong in some countries, especially those who are on the “recovery” mode

4. System and policy indicators
Gender review of curriculum, textbooks, education not clearly reported in some countries

5. Target groups (1) Mostly girls in the following categories:
Ethnic minority groups
Remote/rural areas
Poor/urban poor
Relocated and isolated families
Disabled
Child domestic workers

6. Target groups (2)
At risk adolescent girls (early marriage, early pregnancy)
Boys – underachievement at secondary and higher levels
Street children – mostly boys in some cases, mostly girls in others
Male teachers (low male representation at lower grade levels)
Female school administrators/managers/decision-makers in education

7. Policy Recommendations

8. Conduct sub-national studies/surveys to identify gender disparities
Ensure availability of sex-disaggregated data for refinement in targeting and policy making
Strategies:
Conduct sub-national studies/surveys to identify gender disparities
Systematically review and validate data

9. Ensure the utilization of sex-disaggregated data in policy making, planning, programming, evaluation and budgeting
Strategies
Advocacy and awareness raising among policy makers, education planners and implementers
Training of statisticians, policy analysts and planners, Ministries of Women’s Affairs, MOE, and other sectors/line ministries

10. Institutionalize gender mainstreaming in the educational system
Strategies
Develop a legal platform
Build capacity at all levels, including teacher training colleges, school administrators
Strengthen institutional mechanisms
Form inter-sectoral/inter-ministerial gender working groups/task forces/committees
Ensure the allocation of financial resources

11. Promote female leadership in education
Strategies:
Review labour market policies and practices, particularly staff development processes/strategies with regard to salaries, status, benefits, promotion, retirement age
Provide awards and incentives for outstanding female teachers and gender-responsive teachers
Build capacity of women in leadership skills
Awareness-raising and advocacy with regard to women in leaderships

12. Ensure gender-responsive teaching and learning processes and materials
On-going, systematic review of teaching and learning processes within classrooms, schools, classes and teaching/learning materials from a gender perspective
Encourage girls to enter non-traditional occupations and participate in technical and vocational training
Develop printed materials with female role models and free of gender stereotyping

13. Ensure accessibility of education services and facilities, especially of unreached and at-risk girls
Strategies
Build schools in ethnic minority communities/communes
Recruit female teachers from the ethnic group
Offer multi-grade classes
Provide grant/tuition assistance/scholarships for girls
Provide dormitories/boarding schools, esp. for girls
Provide bilingual/multilingual education
Provide alternative means of education, such as non-formal/informal channels

14. Ensure allocation of resources for promoting gender equality in education
Strategies:
Review the allocation of resources (financial, human) for promoting gender equality in education
Advocate for specific budget for gender programmes
Develop case studies on gender budgeting initiatives
Build capacity on gender budgeting
Assess the impact of gender budgeting initiatives

15. Monitor and evaluate progress in mainstreaming gender in education systems (processes, achievements and outcomes)
Strategies
Develop indicators for measuring progress in achieving gender equality in education (particularly on processes, achievements, outcomes – qualitative aspects) – taking in account the local context
Conduct studies on female participation in governance of educational processes
Monitor progress: learning outcomes and the link of gender parity to gender equality

16. Increase knowledge and understanding of gender issues
Strategies
Training, advocacy among teachers/education administrators/managers, etc. at all levels
Regional and country studies on the links between education, employment and political participation and other outcomes – with a focus on more qualitative research and analysis
Incorporate gender concepts, knowledge of girl child/women’s rights and processes starting at the pre-school level and life skills education
Document and disseminate good practices

17. Partnerships
Other ministries (Women’s Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare, Religious Affairs)
Women’s unions
Youth unions
Men’s networks
Parent-Teacher Associations
Media
NGOs
UN agencies and multilateral organizations
Bilateral donors
Private sector (education services)

18. Partnerships Level Promotion/Advocacy Implementation Monitoring
Facilitation
National
Ministry/media UN Agencies NGOs Gender Focal Point (GFP)
MOE Department GFP
Planning dept GFP
NGOs UN Agencies Multi/Bilateral donors GFP
Prov/ District/ Comm
Governor Superintendent GFP
Prov./Dist Ed dept GFP Network
Ed. Supervisor Local media
Ed. Supervisors GFP
School
PTA Community organizations
Village unions Teachers Parents Students Comm. members
Village unions School Dir School board
Village unions/ Women leaders