Advancing Gender Equality in Post-Primary Education in Africa

1. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Session 5A: Gender Issues in Post- Primary Education Transition to Post-Primary Education: Focus on Girls Presenter: Aster Haregot Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

2. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa What is Post-Primary Education? • PPE includes all learning opportunities for adolescents, either integrated into formal schooling or apart from it: • Traditional formal schooling opportunities in lower secondary and upper secondary, which are followed by tertiary or higher education; • Vocational/technical education, and job training • Life skills, health education, income generation programs, etc. (integrated into formal schooling, or apart from it) • Even basic education for youth who have not completed primary school Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

3. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Problem Statement • The ratio of boys to girls is 4:1 among the poorest 2/5 of households for Grade 9 participation. (Lewin, 2005) • High levels of poverty which result in low retention rates for girls. • Widespread system level barriers to girls education • Persistent barriers at the school level including poor quality of curriculum, textbooks and gendered images, gender-biased instruction, lack of facilities/privacy for girls in their menses, Gender violence etc • Continued barriers at the family/household level, cultural norms and care-giving roles. Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

4. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa • Problem Statement Cont.. • ESAR Data Trends • Primary NER • 80%+ for nine ESAR countries • 70%+ for four countries; three below 60% • Gender parity improved significantly • Primary Completion • 80%+ finish in five countries • Transition to Secondary • 88%+ in five countries (Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa) • 36% or below (Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi) Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

5. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Main results • Increased enrollment of girls • Commitment of governments to increasing access to post primary education. Kenya and Uganda have launched free secondary education • Increased use of the sector-wide approach to programming. 11 ESAR countries have Sector-Wide Approaches that include PPE • More countries have conducted gender audits and are engaged in gender budgeting Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

6. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Main lessons learned • Attend to access and quality simultaneously • Develop a “seamless system” of post-primary education • Use a system-wide approach • Ensure involvement of partners and stakeholders in policy and planning discussions • Need for a systemic approach to programming for post primary. • Start early as inequalities being with ECD Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education

7. ADEA 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa Conclusions: Main messages • Use systemic approach to advocate for gender parity, equity and equality • Use lessons from EFA and Basic Education • UNGEI can make a difference! Beyond Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in AfricaAssociation for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)Biennale 2008 on Post-Primary Education