IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION FOR ACHIEVING WOMEN'S EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE STRESSED IN STATUS OF WOMEN COMMISSION

Press Release
WOM/966

IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION FOR ACHIEVING WOMEN'S EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE STRESSED IN STATUS OF WOMEN COMMISSION

Early marriage, pregnancy, sexual harassment and a heavy work load at home were some of the factors responsible for the high drop-out rate of girls from school, the Commission on the Status of Women was told this afternoon as it heard an exchange of views among Member States on the theme of "education and training of women".

The need for eliminating those and other obstacles faced by women in their access to education was stressed. Speakers suggested the provision of free basic education and scholarships as some of the means to counter high drop-out rates. The representative of Ghana said her country was trying to enrol girls who became pregnant in schools other than the ones from which they had dropped out. That was being done to protect them from sexual harassment and discrimination. In addition, family education was being included in the school curricula.

This afternoon's dialogue was part of a series of discussions that the Commission is holding on four critical areas of concern included in the Platform for Action of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing. Those areas include: education and training of women; women and the economy; women in power and decision-making; and women and the environment.

During the exchange of views, where many speakers reacted to this morning's panel discussion on the same theme, the need for allocation of sufficient funding to basic education was highlighted. A case was also made for improving the nutritional status of school-going children. It was stressed that a focus on girls' education would benefit boys, too.

Speakers emphasized the necessity of integrating gender issues in school curricula and of improving the quality of teaching available to girls. In that regard, a reform of guidance and counselling programmes in schools was important, they said.

Women's Commission - 2 - Press Release WOM/966 10th Meeting (PM) 14 March 1997

Concern was expressed that girls had remained restricted to traditional areas of education. The low numbers of female students opting for studies in sciences and information technology was underscored. Speakers stressed that diversified school programmes were required to counter those trends. They noted that teaching reflected what took place in society. In that context, the urgency of combating of stereotypes was paramount.

Girls were also discriminated against in the area of physical and sports education, where the focus was on boys, speakers said. Further, it was noted that the mere access to education alone did not solve all problems. The representative of Poland said, in her country, large numbers of women studied sciences, but they still went on to low-paid jobs. That was due to structural discrimination in labour market.

Speakers also stressed the need for literacy programmes for adult women and said that mothers should be encouraged to be interested in their children's education. That could help in lowering the number of girl children pulled out from school for providing help in the household.

A case was also made for developing the managerial skills of women and girls. The importance of lifelong learning, as well as informal and alternative education, was emphasized. It was stressed that in order to adapt to a society where restructuring was rampant and which was becoming more technology oriented, women needed access to science and technology. It had to be understood that no profession was "male" or "female". In that regard, women should be provided with assertiveness training, it was said.

Speakers called for cooperation between governments and non-governmental organizations in order to counter discrimination faced by women and girls in their access to education and training. It could not be denied that education was crucial to achieving equality, justice and peace, they said.

The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 17 March, to continue its discussion on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women.

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