Massive gains for girls in education

THE representation of women at levels of decision- making was one of the major challenges pointed out by the Minister of Gender Equality that still impede women’s progress towards gender equality. Commemorating International Women’s Day the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare with the support of the Spanish MDGFund through the United Nations conducted a consultative workshop to popularise the National Gender Policy and to also use that platform to brainstorm on strategies for developing a plan of action.

This year marked the 100-year anniversary of celebrating International Women’s Day and was celebrated under the theme of “Equal access to Education, Training and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women” - Unleashing the full Potential of Women to Emancipate them from Poverty and Gender- Based Violence. According to Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Doreen Sioka, Namibia has made significant progress on the status of women and girls. Meanwhile a message from the UN Secretary General was read by the acting UN Co-ordinator in Namibia, Fabian Byomuhangi. “In the realm of decision-making, more women in more countries are taking their rightful seat in parliament. Yet fewer than 10% of countries have female heads of State or government.

Even where women are prominent in politics, they are often severely under-presented in other areas of decision-making including the highest levels of business and industry.” The under-presentation of women at most levels of decision-making, especially in politics in Namibia, dropped from 31% in 2009 to 24% in 2010, despite the commitment made by ratifying the Convention of Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women in 1992. “Come 2015, women should reach 50/50 representation,” she said, and called upon all stakeholders to join hands in this regard.

According to her, to address equal access to education, training, science and technology, Namibia’s strategy should involve enhancing access and retention of women and girls in science, mathematics and information technology related fields through motivation and affirmative action.

The more educational opportunities that are provided for women and girls, the more they will be able to become self-reliant and not become victims of GBV and poverty. Sioka further said that Namibia has made remarkable gains in terms of the enrolment of women and girls at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. Recent reports show that there are more females than males at all levels of education. Moreover, at the Polytechnic of Namibia, the number of females increased from 5 238 in 2008 to 6 024 in 2009.

These figures have been increasing over the years especially in the fields of science and technology. Sioka said that major challenges that impede women’s ability to access education, training and technology are amongst others the high HIV/Aids prevalence rate among women and young girls as well as the escalating incidences of GBV and sexual exploitation. Reports show that the number of reported rape cases has risen from 608 in 2000 to 944 in 2005. Much worse is the fact that four out of five people accused of rape in Namibia never pay for their crimes, added Sioka. Meanwhile the Government has adopted the Education Sector Policy for Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy in Namibia which provides access for teenage mothers before and after giving birth.

The Government is also in the process of developing a National Plan of Action on Gender- Based Violence which aims at promoting active prevention of gender-based violence, especially violence against women and girls, bolstering the implementation of appropriate legal protection for women and girls that experience GBV and adequate provision of support services for survivors of GBV.

click to enlarge Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Doreen Sioka.