The Federal Ministry Education, in collaboration with UNICEF, is reviewing the National Policy on Gender in Basic Education to tackle insecurity and other emerging gender issues.
UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Azuka Menkiti told newsmen in Abuja at the end of a two day Consultative and Critique Meeting that the review was long overdue.
She said the review of the 14-year-old policy was aimed at finding a lasting solution to emerging gender issues.
She stressed that the review would broaden the scope of the policy which focused only on basic education to ensure inclusiveness for better implementation.
According to her, works are being concluded on the document for onward presentation to relevant authorities for approval.
She added that a review of level of implementation of the policy became imperative to ascertain the level of compliance.
The UNICEF’s Education Specialist said a team of experts were drawn from different levels of education to lead the review of the document in view of its importance.
She explained that the review process was not only about critiquing the draft copy, but also to build consensus on implementation plan.
According to her, it is to avoid the policy being reviewed, approved and shelved in offices, adding that building consensus around the document would go a long way in ensuring adequate implementation.
Menkiti stressed that in order to make the document acceptable to all, stakeholders, including Civil Society Organisations, religious and traditional leaders, and experts from various states of the federation were part of the process.
Menkiti assured that work would be completed on the document in a few weeks for onward presentation to the Ministry of Education.
She added that once that was done, the ministry would be expected to convene a meeting of the National Council on Education for approval.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director, Gender 2, Federal Ministry of Education, Enakeme Nnorom, said when approved, the policy would go a long way in redefining education in Nigeria.
She said when put in place, girls and boys would have quality education because there would be easier access.
She added that there would be mechanisms to check sexual harassment, while channels for reporting and punishing bad behaviours would be put in place.
She expressed optimism that the document would be approved before the end of the year.
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