About the Gender Unit

The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) has been at the forefront of promoting gender equality in the education sector since the early 1990s.
Through various initiatives and interventions, the Ministry has made significant strides in addressing gender disparities. A key milestone in
these efforts was the establishment of the Gender Mainstreaming Unit (GMU) in 2013 to spearhead gender mainstreaming across the Education
Sector.

Mandate of the Gender Mainstreaming Unit (GMU) in MoES

The GMU is responsible for ensuring the effective integration of gender perspectives into education policies, programs, and activities. It works  collaboratively with all sub-sectors in education to mainstream gender- responsive initiatives. Specifically, the GMU is mandated to:
1. Provide support to ensure a harmonized and coherent approach to gender mainstreaming within MoES, including the implementation of the Gender in Education Strategic Plan
2. Develop structures that facilitate collaboration and networking among various departments implementing gender-responsive initiatives
3. Strengthen MoES partnerships with other government ministries,  development partners, and NGOs to advance gender-related efforts in the education sector.
4. Work with MoES technical working groups to design tools and frameworks for integrating gender considerations into policies,  programs, and activities.
5. Review and provide technical input to national and international policies, strategies, and action plans to ensure gender perspectives are effectively integrated.
6. Support MoES in resource mobilization and advocacy efforts to secure funding for gender-related programs and initiatives.
7. Assist in the development of guidelines and frameworks to facilitate the implementation of the Gender in Education Policy and other gender-responsive policies.
8. Implement targeted programs to address harmful social norms and practices, including early and forced marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM), abduction of girls, child labor, and violence against children in schools, all of which hinder children’s education and school completion.

Policy and Strategic Frameworks Informing the Work of the Gender Unit

The programs and activities of the Gender Unit are guided by key policies  and strategic frameworks, including:
a) Education (Pre-primary, Primary and Post Primary) Act (2008)
b) Children Act (Amendment) 2016.
c) Gender in Education Policy (2016) and its Gender in Education Strategic Plan.
d) National Strategic Plan on Violence Against Children in Schools (2015-2020).
e) Operational Guidelines:

  • Guidelines for the Implementation of the Roles and
  • Responsibilities of Senior Women and Men Teachers.
  • Guidelines for Reporting, Tracking, Referral, and Response (RTRR) on Violence Against Children in Schools.
  • Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Teenage Pregnancy.
  • Guidelines for the Formation, Strengthening, and Management  of School Clubs.
  • The Life Skills Toolkit

The Gender Unit remains committed to fostering an inclusive and gender- responsive education system, ensuring that all learners, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to access and complete quality education.

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