School principals and other stakeholders in the education sector in the FCT, have been asked to promote gender equality and harmony as well as mitigate against all forms of gender based violence in schools.
Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Sani El-katuzu, gave the charge during a capacity building workshop for school principals and other stakeholders on the National Policy on Gender in Education and its implementation guide and the referral pathway for Schools in FCT.
He noted that though gender issues and concerns have gained some level of attention from global community in recent times, much still needs to be done to bridge the gender disparity in many sectors.
The education boss is however optimistic that the training programme will “expose you to the new National Policy on Gender in Education and equip you with the knowledge and skills to enable you contribute meaningfully and effectively to finding solutions to gender issues as it affects your responsibilities as educators.”
He added that, “Over the years, gender issues and concerns have attracted the interest of the global community but despite this great attention, much is still to be done. For example, there is still gender disparity in many areas of human endeavours including the education sector.”
The secretary also noted that a large number of women, girls and boys have been deprived basic competencies and skills that could assist them to live meaningful lives and contribute to the growth and development of the society.
The workshop is therefore expected to expose the participants to gender main streaming in the education sector as it affects the policies and programmes of government, while addressing issues of violence in schools that inhibit the chances of girls and boys in accessing quality education as well as optimal performance in school.
El-katuzu observed that teachers are sometimes afraid of reporting child abuse for fear of inaccurate report. He assured that the training will erase their fear, urging them that they cannot ignore a child that is a victim of violence outside school but “must help the child and helping the child involves having knowledge of what to do to offer solutions.”
In his welcome remark, the Director of Administration and Finance, Mallam Abdulrazak Leramoh, said as educators, the intensive training on gender based violence will better equip them to enhance their abilities to address various issues in that regards.
He said, the FCT Education Secretariat is leaving no stone unturned to ensure gender issues are brought to the front burner hence with the experienced facilitators, the participants will be able to further put in place processes and mechanism to report and eradicate sexual and gender based violence for students and staff.
In her brief, the Head, Gender unit, Mrs Uduakobong Umossoh, said the capacity building program on the National Policy on Gender in Education will help the participants to step up their knowledge of the various issues relating to gender in the teaching and learning environment.
