The Gender Equity Program (GEP)
supported by Rockefeller Foundation is aimed at bridging the gender
gap in education by increasing retention, performance and
achievement of primary school pupils. The focus is placed on girls
because of the existing gap in the education sector. GEP is based on
five components that were tested by FAWE Uganda through her programs
and now being consolidated into one which is aimed at increasing
performance, enrolment, retention and achievement of education by
the girl-child in order to close the gender gap.
The five components include:
a. Break Through to Literacy (BTL)
b. Child-Friendly Learning Initiative (CFI)
c. Science, Mathematics and Technical Education (SMT)
d. Sexual Maturation Management (SMM)
e. Girls Education Movement (GEM)
The initiative aims at testing a
comprehensive program based on lessons learnt in FAWEU
interventions, in the five pilot districts (in 5 primary schools per
district) selected in the Strategic Plan. Their selection depended
on the level of need and performance as compared to other districts
of Uganda. Nebbi and Kalangala were selected for their poor
performance in National Primary and Secondary Examinations (1995 –
97). Kiboga district was selected because it is one of the FAWEU
pilot districts where the life skills project (1999 – 2002) was
implemented, and FAWEU identified a great need for education
promotion in the district; while Katakwi and Kisoro were selected
because of the wide gender gap in education both in primary and
secondary schools in the districts. Out of the initiative a
girl-child friendly model for promoting gender equity in primary
schools will be developed.
