The Gender Education Unit, under The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), with funding from UNESCO-NATCOM from Saturday 11th March to Monday 13th March 2023, conducted three days of sensitization and Awareness creation.
The campaign under the theme, “Popularization of STEM and Digital Skills Education and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Training” targets 30 School Children at a ceremony held at the Regional Education Directorate in Basse, Upper River Region.
Speaking at the event, Madam Isatou Jallow Bah – Gender Point at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, said that, the activity is part of a strategic intervention designed by her unit, to build the skills gap in the area of STEM.
This she said, can only be achieved through raising the awareness of participants on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the significance of Mathematics and Sciences in career development, and also to create a platform for experience sharing and also to enhance the reporting and management of Sexual Harassment in schools.
Madam Jallow said the emergence of Digital Technology risks the safety of Girls in both the School and Community environments and therefore the need to provide them with vital information relating to Sexual harassment.
“I must add that, this sensitization activity targeting girls from various Senior Secondary Schools to support and encourage their specialization and training in Mathematics and Sciences will provide an alternative for self-employment and income generation.” She said.
In his presentations, Mr. Musa Cham, the lead trainer on STEM and Digital Skills, dilated on the need for girls to signify skills. This, he emphasized will unlock their potential to break barriers and challenges affecting their productivity and self-reliance.
He, therefore, implored teachers to include practical skills-building methodologies in their teaching and learning techniques to encourage students whilst challenging the Government to mobilize resources to enhance teaching and learning in Schools.
He added that this would give Girls in Rural Areas the opportunity to enhance their options and broaden their horizons within the perspective of STEM and Digital Skills Acquisition.
He went on to challenge participants to take the training seriously.
Madam Fatou Njie Sanyang, the Programme Officer at UNESCO-NATCOM, on her part, said that the program is significant, as it will create an avenue and mechanism for addressing gender equality through the promotion of STEM and Digital Skills Acquisition.
She challenged participants to take the training seriously and break the stereotypes associated with skills training among women folks while advising participants to take the messages seriously and serve as goodwill Ambassadors to the schools they represent.
