Worlds Largest lesson 2016 : children against gender inequality
On October 7th 2016, UNICEF Burkina Faso alongside with the Ministry of National Education and Literacy launched back to school and the Worlds Largest Lesson 2016 at the Child friendly School model of Niéga, in the Ganzourgou province and Plateau Central region.
Education must remain a priority in Burkina Faso, especially for girls. Integrated complexes are an appropriate response to issues of accessibility, equity, completion and quality of education insists Dr Anne Vincent UNICEF representative.
By realizing the different levels of education on the same area, the possibilities for sharing infrastructures, equipment, teachers, devices and water and sanitation facilities are increased.
The local management of the school is facilitated. The chances of transition between levels are increased because it is shown that distance is one of the important factors of school dropout.
There are also alternative solutions for out-of-school children, such as the non-formal basic education center (CEBNF) already functioning in Niéga, with a perspective of pre-professionalization and accelerated schooling strategy.
Burkina Faso has been engaged for some years now in the implementation of the reform of the education system to ensure compulsory and free basic education for all children aged 3 to 16 years.
Under this system, basic education now includes preschool, primary and post-primary education, which form a single cycle called the thirteen-year continuum within an Integrated Basic Education Complex (CIEB) .
We must guarantee the children of Burkina Faso, effective support from early childhood to entry into the working life. The aim is to make the education system coherent, more functional and more adapted to the socio-economic and cultural development needs of Burkina Faso said Dr Anne Vincent UNICEF representative.
This year, the Worlds Largest lesson invites children all over the world to focus on Goal 5: Gender Equality with a lesson and a cross curricular survey project that enables students to contribute to the Global Goals right now.
Around the world, girls between the ages of five and 14 spend 550 million hours on household chores, 160 million more hours than boys in the same age group, according to UNICEF report from titled “Harnessing the Power of Data for Girls.” Girls aged five to nine spend an average of four hours a week on chores; that rises to nine hours per week for girls aged 10 to 14.
The countries where girls between 10 and 14 years old bear the most disproportionate burden of household chores compared to boys are: Burkina Faso, Yemen and Somalia.
In Burkina Faso, UNICEF implementing partner Le Cinéma Ambulant Numérique traveled throughout the country to discuss gender equality with children at their schools.
In Niéga, pupils had the privilege to watch the Worlds Largest Lesson animation film alongside with the Minister of National Education and Literacy. They offered solutions to overcome gender inequality, decided to become change-makers and take action for their future.
Boys and girls are equal, they shouted at the end of the viewing.
UNICEF teams around the world are working with ministries of education and the World’s Largest Lesson to teach children about the global goals. Backed by knowledge, a young generation can be empowered to build a fairer and better world.
