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p. 6 of 11 BACK | NEXT Purpose of the checklist Why is gender important in education projects? Key questions and action points in the project cycle Gender issues in education projects Gender issues in basic and primary education Gender issues in secondary education Gender issues in tertiary education Gender issues in nonformal education and training Strategies for gender mainstreaming in education Appendices Selected References

Gender Checklist: Education : Key questions and action points in the project cycle

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Gender issues in secondary education

School projects should address the causes of low participation rates among women; remove gender stereotypes in textbooks; train more female teachers; and reshape social attitudes toward the education of women

Key Questions

• Are education and training opportunities for girls in all available programs widely publicized? Is secondary education offered in rural communities?
• What are the constraints on girls’ enrollment in secondary education?
• Are their sufficient facilities at secondary training institu-tions (e.g., secure women’s dormitory accommodation, study facilities for women where sex segregation is a cultural norm) to allow women to enroll?
• Are female teachers available at this level?

Key Strategies

• Consider providing career counseling at the stage where boys and girls make career choices, and using successful female role models to help them make better choices.
• Include in the project specific measures to address identified constraints on female participation. (Examples are provided in Box 1.)
• Assess the need for remedial actions at lower secondary levels or upgrading programs (such as extension and continuing education) for marginally qualified people, especially women, to prepare them for entry into professional schools and higher education.
• Establish quota systems or stipends to encourage female participation in science and technical subjects.
• Provide hostel facilities for girls to facilitate their completion of the secondary level.
• Hire more female teachers. Encourage educated women to become teachers through affirmative action plans, a female-friendly work environment, etc.
• Design specific mechanisms to involve more women in school management, teacher organizations, etc. (Examples are given in Box 4.)

Tips

• Teach gender sensitivity to primary and secondary teachers

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