Make Every Woman Count
At the regional level, the Regional Coordination Group for SDG4-Education 2030 in West and Central Africa adopted the Acceleration Strategy in 2019. This aims to stimulate the pace of progress within the education sector towards the achievement of SDG 4 and CESA in 24 West and Central African countries.2103 In the East African region, the EAC Gender & Science Technology Framework promotes gender mainstreaming and gender equity, entrepreneurship training and education. In the Southern African region, the SADC Gender Policy supports equal access for girls and boys to science and mathematics education, as well as access for women and girls to tertiary education in non-traditional subject areas, encouraging women’s involvement in science.2104 Education remains a priority among the AU Member States. According to the African Economic Outlook 2020 report, published by the African Development Bank, African governments devote on average 5% of their national gross domestic product (GDP) to education, and nearly half of the countries meet the UN targets of 4% or more of GDP, and 15% or more of government budgets, being allocated to education.2105 While there are positive developments in terms of achieving Objective 4 of the AWD, though, gender disparities remain.
8.2. Trends in Constitutional, Legal, Policy and Institutional Reform Achieve parity in education at secondary and tertiary levels and higher retention rates for girls Constitutional reform: During the AWD, several countries adopted constitutional provisions on the right to education. The 2015 Constitution of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic guarantees the right to education.2106 The Constitution of Central African Republic states that, “each has the right of access to sources of knowledge. The State guarantees to any citizen access to instruction, to culture, and professional training” (Art. 9).2107 The 2020 Draft Constitution of Gambia is notable as it not only recognises the right to education but also stipulates that the State shall take measures, including affirmative action programmes, to ensure that women have access to relevant education and training (Art. 55).2108 At the time of writing, the Draft Constitution had not yet been adopted. Several constitutions contain provisions on the role of the State in providing free education. The 2014 Constitution of Tunisia provides for free public education at all levels (Art. 39).2109 Similarly, the 2018 Constitution of Chad states that public education is free of charge (Art. 38).2110 Under the 2012 Constitution of Somalia, “every citizen shall have the right to free education up to secondary school” (Art. 30).2111 The 2014 Constitution of Egypt (revised in 2019) “grants free education in different stages in state educational institutions as per the law,” and commits the State to allocate “a percentage of government that is no less than 4% of GDP for education” and to “gradually increase this until it reaches the global rates” (Art. 19).2112 Other constitutions contain broad provisions on the role of the State in providing access to education free of charge. Legal reforms: Some countries have adopted legal reforms relevant to promoting parity and the protection of students at the secondary and tertiary levels. The Tertiary Education Act 2011 in Seychelles promotes gender balance and equality of opportunity among learners and employees at the university level.2113 In Uganda, Circular No. 2/2015 (2015) “bans all acts of violence against children such as corporal punishment, and any negligent treatment. Such negligence includes; failure to meet the children/learners physical needs like menstrual hygiene-related needs for girls; sexual abuse such as defilement and rape, speaking to children in a sexual manner, making marriage proposals to learners and emotional violence in schools, institutes and colleges in Uganda.”2114 In 2015, the Tanzanian government issued Circular 5, which implements the Education and Training Policy 2014 directing public bodies to ensure secondary education is free for all children.2115 The Law on Children and Adolescents 2013 of Cabo Verde establishes that a pregnant student cannot be prevented from, or encouraged to interrupt, her education.2116 Policy reforms: Nearly all African countries have adopted national education sector policies, with specific goals for secondary and tertiary education. The Senegalese Education Sector Programme 2013–2025 includes goals to strengthen
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