You are here

02/11/2013

In September 2013, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education published the "Guide for gender mainstreaming in the management of technical education in Ecuador". This publication is a valuable result of a process that started in 2007. Numerous organisations, including VVOB, contributed to it. The guide is free to download.

Equity: a crucial dimension of quality education

In the context of the right of access to quality education both the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education and VVOB see equity as a crucial dimension in their definitions of quality education. Equity in education means that personal and social circumstances such as gender, ethnic origin or family background are not obstacles to achieving educational potential and that all individuals reach at least a basic minimum level of skills.

For VVOB gender equity is closely related to the opportunities that all students should get to enjoy quality education. In the new Multi-Year Programme (2014-2016) of VVOB the importance of gender mainstreaming in education is therefore included in the general objectives:

"A good quality education is one that provides all learners with capabilities they require to become economically productive, develop sustainable livelihoods, contribute to peaceful and democratic societies and enhance individual wellbeing. (...)" (From VVOB’s definition of Quality Education)

Towards a guide for gender mainstreaming in technical education

In this context, VVOB supported the publication of the "Guide for gender mainstreaming in the management of technical education in Ecuador”. It is a valuable outcome of the research work that the Ministry of Education started in 2007 with the support of the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (AECID - Spanish Agency for International Cooperation) and the Consejo Nacional de las Mujeres (CONAMU - the Ecuadorian national agency for women).

In 2011, the Ministry of Education - in collaboration with the Spanish NGO Educación Sin Fronteras (Education Without Borders) - brought together a variety of education stakeholders in a workshop to make a proposal for mainstreaming the gender approach in education. The participants were teachers of secondary schools that offer technical education, specialists in gender issues, officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of collaborating private institutions. Their contributions served as a basis for the development of the publication.

The composition of the guide started in October 2011. This was based on workshops which officials from various educational zones, as well as directors and teachers of secondary schools.

The "Guide for gender mainstreaming in the management of technical education in Ecuador" is primarily intended for everyone who is part of the management of secondary schools in Ecuador that offer technical courses. But also to anyone who is interested in working in schools from a gender perspective, the publication can offer inspiration.