EFA-SL Engage MPs Education Gender Policy
By Mohamed Konneh
The Education for All Sierra Leone Coalition in partnership with Education Outcloud on Thursday engaged members of Parliament on the Education Outcloud GPE policy dialogue on education Gender policies. The theme of the dialogue was ‘law makers response to education gender policy issues’ at the CHASL Hall, Kingharman Road in Freetown.
In his opening remarks the Deputy Chairman, Education for All Sierra Leone Coalition, Hassan Fuad Kanu said women make 52 percent of the country’s population but are mostly poor and marginalized in society.
‘Our women can only achieved their goal if we continue to support them, give them the education required. We are happy that our Members of Parliament responded very well to the bill that has now becomes law waiting for presidential ascent, he said.’
Mr. Kanu thanked the MPs for coming noting that women’s and girls empowerment is key noting that the child right bill is also under review that will soon be tabled in parliament.
The National Coordinator, EFA-SL Joseph Cobina giving the review said the coalition was formed as a result of Jontem declaration and since then they’ve been engaging the sector.
He said the organization does research work, do documentation and work with stakeholders including members of parliament.
‘We collaborate with every aspect of society and for 2022 we have been working with civic education and open Governance. We have contributed to the national action plan of the Open Governance Partnership and we are also working with young people including the national commission for democracy, Mr. Cobina said.’
The EFA Coordinator said they’ve contributed to the teaching service commission and also contribute to the recent teachers awards.
‘We are currently working on the GIGA Project for the past two years now and this is done in partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. We are member of the education sector plan and we participated in developing that plan that was launched by President Bio, he said.’
Mr. Cobina noted that they are current working on the Education Outcloud project for the last two years.
‘Today we are looking at the recently passed Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Act 2022 that is waiting presidential ascent.
The representative from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Zinzi said the enactment of the law was good while thanking the MPs for this.
She said there are lot of gender based violence in school and but much of these were not taken into consideration while enacting the GEWE law.
Hon. Soriba Turay of the Education Committee in Parliament making a brief statement said education is important for women and that bill now law never discuss the girl child education.
He said women managed the home and the need to promote and protect them.
This he promised will be discuss in parliament as there moving forward.
Hon. Thorley of Tonkolili district said the role of women is important adding that even in creation the man was created alongside the men.
‘So in development there is no way women can be left behind? Women cannot stay in the kitchen all along and the need to empower them. The recruitment of teachers is not done in the aspect of gender but as per qualification and this is the more reason why we need to encourage the women to learn. There is every need to strengthen women educational needs he said.’
On guidance counseling, Hon. Thorley said there are lack teachers in schools and this is something that is needed in the school curriculum.
Hon. Charles Mbayo from Kono district was quick to point out the difficulties in recruitment when it comes to women.
He said serious consideration should be given to women when it comes to recruitment.
‘There is every need to have a guidance counseling session in school and this is important for our children especially the girl child. The ministry of education need to bring onboard guidance counselors in schools, train them and make sure they have a place in the school, Hon. Mbayo said.’
The one-day engagement witness members of parliament committing to the gender policy been discuss and promised to take it forward in parliamentary debates.
