By Berio Mbala
WINDHOEK
The United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called on African girls to embark on science and technology careers.
The Director of UNESCO Windhoek Cluster Office, Dr Claudia Harvey, made the call at the opening of the training workshop on “girls in science” in Windhoek this week.
The workshop aims at introducing participants from African countries to gender disparities in the field of Science and Technology and is being held in collaboration with UNESCO Section of Science and Technology in Paris.
Harvey said the presence of those in attendance was testimony of the importance their governments and institutions attach to the theme: “Girls participating in education with a special focus on science”.
She said “The focus on girls falls in line with the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – notable goals number 2 and 4 – to achieve universal primary education in order to ensure that by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling”.
She said promoting gender equality and empowering women in order to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education at all levels of education no later than 2015 was important for development of the continent. Harvey said there was a need to ensure that by 2015, all children, particularly girls, children in difficult circumstances and those belonging to ethnic minorities, have access to and complete free and compulsory primary education of good quality.
She said UNSCO was committed to play its role in capacity building and of promoting international co-operation, in partnership with other development actors and regional and sub-regional economic organisations, while relying on national ownership.
Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, who opened the workshop said: “In conformity with the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) number three which advocates for the elimination of gender disparities in education by 2015, this workshop attempts to address issues that relate to a specific area where gender disparities are particularly blunt: the field of science and technology in African countries.”
“For decades, science and technology have been recognised as a cornerstone of development and prosperity for Africa. Furthermore, economic prosperity of African countries is interlinked with the skillful utilisation and management of science and technology. This underscores the importance of skilled human resources in the science, mathematics and in the fields of technology in Africa,” she said.
She added “Statistical data obtained from the Association for the Development of Africa (ADEA) and the Forum for African Women Education Woman Educationalists (FAWE) indicate that, of the 22 percent of girls attending secondary school, only 10 percent study science-related topics,” Ndjoze-Ojo.
The women form only 15 percent of the scientific field in Africa and only 1 percent of them are in leadership positions, she stated.
She said the introduction of the training manual and CD-Rom organised by UNESCO will contribute immensely to a more equal participation of girls and boys in the science and technology in the sub-region and Africa as a whole.
This will not only enhance gender equity but will strengthen national capacity for accelerated scientific development and improved participation of women.
Ndjoze-Ojo said she looked forward for a report on the outcome of the workshop, so that “trainers in our teacher education colleges, experts and teachers in the regions shall be able to reflect on the outcomes in our education policies and practices for the benefit of many girls, including those living in remote areas”.
She said “this will be a major contribution to the Namibian Education and Training Improvement Programme (ETSIP), which is the driving engine that will lead us to the achievement of our development goals as encapsulated in Vision 2030.”