Advisor to the Prime Minister on Women Development Nilofer Bakhtiar said that the ministry of women development will work along with the education ministry and other departments engaged in economic and social development to ensure better education facilities for women. She said that curriculum reforms are central issue in education and according to the government policy, curriculum and textbooks must take into consideration gender issues.
She was addressing a three-day national experts meeting on "Development of Strategies for Addressing Gender Biases in Curricula and Primary and Secondary Textbooks" organised by the Centre of Excellence in Women Studies in Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational Scientific, Cultural Organisation (Unesco) here on Monday.
The meeting was also attended by Quaid-e-Azam University vice-chancellor U.A.G. Isani, Centre of Excellence for Women Studies acting director Dr Farzana Bari, education ministry curriculum wing joint secretary Haroona Jatoi, Unesco programme coordinator Hassan Kenan, NGO representatives, gender experts and professionals from textbooks, curriculum wings of education departments.
The objective of the meeting was to examine previous work on gender biases and prejudices in the curricula and to develop strategies for making the entire educational process gender sensitive.
Nilofer Bakhtiar said that education is one of the key priority areas where gender equality is essential if we want to move forward and take position among highly educated nations.
The minister said without providing good education to women, the dream of creating a modern and developed country will remain unfulfilled.
She said education is the right of every child, male and female, and government has paid particular attention to ensuring gender equality by increasing the participation of women in representative bodies at national, provincial and local levels.
Women can play a central role in the development of the country and government plans will continue to ensure women's equality and participation in all legal, social, political and economic fields, she added.
She said that Pakistan is signatory to a number of international agreements, covenants and declarations, all of which emphasised the elimination of gender biases and stereotypes from the curriculum.
UAG Isani said our education system needs reform at all level including higher education.
Country needs dedication to remove gender disparities and inequalities for the society, he added.
Haroona Jatoi emphasised that curriculum at primary and secondary level must be revised after every five years to meet upcoming challenges.
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