In general gender refers to constructed roles , relationships, personality traits, attitudes, behaviors, values, relative power and influences that society attributes to sexes , thus gender refers not only to women and men but also the relationship between them.
Gender education on the other hand refers to a responsive education program that promotes increase access and completion of quality education for both boys and girls.
In Rwanda major efforts were made mainly after the 1994 genocide against the tutsi, where it has committed itself toward developing a society that is democratic and participatory with the practice of good governance, thus in that line the promotion of education for all was very important as it promotes economic growth, social development and democracy.
The structure of gender education in Rwanda was divided into access, quality/ achievement, retention /completion both toward addressing disparities and monitoring.
Talking about access part, there was the promotion of measures ensuring equity of participation in education focusing on enrollment, retention and attendance of boys, girls and vulnerable children with specific plans ensuring equitable participation.
Moreover, they have put in place compulsory measures to ensure that all education institutions mainstream as norm gender disaggregation and analysis in all reporting, data collection and research activities. They took also affirmative action to promote the education of girls, women and vulnerable groups at secondary and higher education levels.
Additionally, they provided enrollment or re-entry of girls and boys who have dropped out of school including girls who dropped out because of pregnancy as well as girls and boys who were head of household including child workers.
In regard to quality/ achievement part , the government of Rwanda have emphasized on ensuring gender sensitive curriculum focusing on life skills, leadership, and etc. For girls to promote self-confidence and
self-esteem.
The government of Rwanda have also promoted and diversified technical as well as vocational training and removed all gender stereotypes in choice of vocations.
Adding to that, the government also have put in place measures to promote specifically the participation of girls in science and technology as well as other learning opportunities.
Finally, on the retention/ completion part, the government of Rwanda have ensured that the construction or the rehabilitation of educational institutions is gender responsive.
The government provided and still provides targeted subsides as well as resources allocation for groups disadvantaged in education access and participation by virtue of gender. Special measures were also put in place to protect children and students whether boys, girls and women from physical, mental, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances in educational institutions.
In a nutshell, the government of Rwanda have made good progress in terms of gender education despite the challenges often faced during the implementation of it's structure relating to gender education in Rwanda and so far the disparities have reduced compared to previous years.
References
_Ministry of Education in Rwanda-website.
_ Ministry of Family and gender promotion in Rwanda -website.
_www.USAID.gov(gender analysis for USAID /Rwanda).
_www.unicef.org (gender equality in education /UNICEF Rwanda.
It is interesting to know how Rwanda has put so much efforts in developing the gender equality in education in schools. This gives hopes for the next generations to achieve even better.
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