Partnerships & Community Support

This forum provided civil society an opportunity to exchange their views and practices for more effective cooperation with local bodies and  governments. Many interactive workshops were held, addressing the 12  critical concerns of the Beijing Platform for Action, including a workshop on education, in which participation was significant. The BPFA highlights lifelong quality education and training as essential for the development of women and girls. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, updated curricula, and reskilling/upskilling. The theme for the workshop was "Education and Training of Women" and it featured key recommendations for  improvement through Immediate, Intermediate, and Long-term actions. 

These three key topics included quality and continuing education, teacher  education, and digital education. During the workshop, we stressed the  need to ensure inclusive education and raise awareness of the importance of lifelong learning for all women and girls, especially in STEM and digital literacy. Challenges to achieving quality and continuing  education were identified, such as cultural norms, gender bias, and the  lack of safe and accessible schools. 

The necessity of educators, including teachers, facilitators, and trainers, in ensuring  high-quality education was also highlighted. Some of the obstacles to  teacher education include an insufficient number of qualified teachers, difficult working conditions, cyberbullying, undervalued status, pay inequity, and a lack of awareness about the need for improvement. 

The  importance of advancing digital literacy to enable women and girls to engage in online knowledge and information sharing, digital  entrepreneurship, and remote work was also discussed. Negative social  norms, gender discrimination, skill development stereotyping, and  concerns about digital technology safety prevent many women and girls  from acquiring digital skills. 

Several action points were recommended at the workshop, such as increasing financing and resources for educational and training needs, addressing the global shortage of teachers, implementing lifelong learning for all women and girls, including teachers, facilitating the transition of women into new occupations through lifelong educational initiatives, and equipping all women and girls with the tools and support needed to lead and innovate in the digital world. 

In the workshop's interactive part,  participants exchanged ideas and practices on education and training in different countries and societies. Emerging themes for the workshop included the following:  

- Importance of Teacher Self-Awareness: Teachers need to be mindful of their attitudes and adapt their approach to support students effectively; 

- Role of Parents and Community: Involving parents and the community is  crucial for a supportive learning environment and addressing challenges  like mental health; 

- Focus on Gender Equality and Bias: Educators should be trained to tackle stereotypes and foster a more inclusive classroom; 

- Encouraging Emotional and Critical Thinking Skills: Developing these  skills is essential for preparing students for the future; 

- Systemic Inequities in Teaching: The teaching profession faces systemic  barriers, including racism, underfunding, and poor infrastructure,  especially in marginalized and indigenous communities. These issues limit access to resources and impact the quality of education; 

- Gender Disparities in the Profession: Teaching is often seen as a  feminized field, contributing to pay gaps, limited career advancement  opportunities, and a low societal status for educators. This is particularly evident in Early Childhood Education (ECE), where there are very few male teachers, reinforcing traditional gender roles; 

- Balancing Work and Personal Life: Many female teachers juggle work and  family responsibilities, which restricts their advancement and  professional development opportunities. This imbalance often affects  their ability to pursue higher pay and leadership roles within the  field;

- Variability of Teacher Status Across Regions: Teacher status and opportunities differ greatly between regions. In countries like the UK, teachers face structural challenges that hinder access to proper training, while other European countries may offer more support and flexibility for professional growth.  

Finally, one conclusion became clear: there is a significant need for financing,  positive involvement, and cooperation from governments, organizations,  and individuals to advance quality lifelong education and training for all women and girls.