Equality of Opportunity in Education and Training - Lesotho Education Sector Strategic Plan 2002

Lesotho Education Sector Strategic Plan 2002

The Strategic Plan has been drafted by the Ministry of Education. The Lesotho Government has participated in a number of regional and international forums that national policies and strategies are aligned with. The most important initiatives are:

• Education for All (EFA) Dakar Framework for Action
• World Summit for Children
• Committee on the Rights of the Child
• South African Development Community (SADC) Protocol
  
• SADC Technical Committee on Basic Education
  

Gender Equality is seen as one of the crosscutting issues in the plan, the general Education for All (EFA) goal to “eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education and achieve gender equality in basic education by 2015” is implemented through the following

Activity 1. Develop a gender policy for schools that ensure equal chance of participation and achievement in learning, teaching and school management

Strategies:

• Consultative process for policy formulation on gender in schools
  
• Facilitate approval and dissemination of policy on gender in schools
  

Activity 2. Monitor indicators on gender disparities on basic education on an annual basis

Strategy:

• Gender analysis of all educational data
  

Activity 3. Ensure gender sensitivity of curricula content, teaching and learning materials in basic education.

Strategies:

• Review all current teaching and learning materials and curriculum content for gender sensitivity
  
• Develop gender sensitive learning and teaching materials
  

Activity 4. Sensitise school communities on gender sensitivity

• Develop and broadcast brochures, radio messages and dramas to sensitize school communities on gender issues.
  
• Address public gatherings
  
• Sensitize Ministry of Education officials on gender issues
  

Activity 5. Rollout an information campaign to school communities on topical issues in education including gender sensitivity, environmental education, and citizenship education, population and family life education and school health.

• Hold campaigns on topical issues