Amman: A regional technical workshop titled “Developing School Curricula from a Gender Equality Perspective” commenced Sunday in Amman under the patronage of the Chairperson of the Supreme Council of the National Center for Curriculum Development, Muhyiddine Touq, with participation from representatives of several Arab countries.
According to Jordan News Agency, the workshop is organized by the Arab Women Organization in cooperation with the Jordanian National Commission for Women and the National Center for Curriculum Development. This two-day event provides a platform for dialogue and cooperation among Arab education ministries and national mechanisms responsible for women’s issues. It seeks to exchange expertise and identify practical ways to integrate gender equality into school curricula.
Participants include curriculum-development representatives from ministries of education and women’s mechanisms in Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Oman, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, and Yemen. Touq emphasized that gender equality is central to the National Center’s vision, focusing on revising existing content to be more gender-responsive and embedding gender equality concepts directly within core subjects.
Touq highlighted that human rights, particularly women’s rights, are prioritized in the general curriculum framework issued by the National Center. These principles are reinforced across specific subject frameworks, ensuring their reflection in educational content presented to students. The Center is working on operational measures, including developing a cross-subject matrix of common issues such as humanitarian themes, which encompasses gender equality.
Maha Ali, Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women, underscored the importance of the workshop in enabling Arab countries to share experiences on integrating gender perspectives into curricula. She noted that curricula serve not only as educational tools but also as strategic instruments for instilling values of justice and equality, preventing violence, and combating bullying.
Ali added that developing curricula through a gender lens aligns with Jordan’s National Strategy for Women and the Second National Plan to Implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. She praised the National Center for Curriculum Development and the Ministry of Education for advancing gender-responsive budgeting.
Arab Women Organization Director-General Fadia Kiwan stated that education is pivotal in transforming social mindsets and behaviors regarding gender equality. She emphasized the organization’s focus on education, culture, and media to drive change.
The workshop’s sessions will present and discuss participating countries’ experiences in revising and developing curricula from a gender equality perspective, share best practices, and review the Arab Women Organization’s education program. Participants will also work to build regional consensus on priorities and future steps to ensure more inclusive and equitable education systems.
This initiative is part of the Arab Women Organization’s Education, Culture, and Media Program, aiming to influence societal culture and instill values of justice, equality, and acceptance of others, focusing on shaping the character of children and adolescents.