Creating Gender-Inclusive Learning Environments

September 20, 2017 September 19, 2017 New York

NEW YORK, September 20 – In support of Girls CHARGE, “Supporting Teachers to Create Gender-Inclusive Learning Environments” took place at IIE on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Remarks were made by IIE’s Rajika Bhandari, Head of Research, Policy and Practice, Christina Kwauk, Brookings Postdoctoral Fellow, Sarah Bever, IREX’s Technical Advisor, Secondary Education Education Practice and other experts in the fields of education, research, and evaluation. IIE Evaluation Officer Evgenia Valuy gave one of four Ignite Talks, focusing on IIE’s Higher Education Readiness (HER) Program for girls in Ethiopia. 

Photo: Ignite Speakers at Girls CHARGE Event 2017

There has been a lot of discussion lately on the importance of creating gender-inclusive learning environments for boys and girls. What’s not talked about a lot is the importance of supporting teachers in creating such spaces. This year at the United Nations General Assembly, the Girls CHARGE initiative will explore this topic with experts and practitioners in the thick of designing and implementing programs to help teachers become change agents in the classroom. The panel and discussion to follow will explore questions such as, what is a gender-inclusive learning environment, what support do teachers need to create and maintain gender-inclusive practices, and what is the impact of such approaches on education systems and boys and girls themselves?

Four speakers presented case studies in a series of brief “Ignite Talks.” The entire discussion was captured in a graphic rapporteur that mapped the discussion and main takeaways (see below). The speakers were:

  • Ignite Talk One: Evgenia Valuy, Evaluation Officer, IIE
  • Ignite Talk Two: Adefunke Ekine, Deputy Director of Research and Innovation, Tai Solarin University of Education
  • Ignite Talk Three: Claudia Vanessa Siliezar Turicios, Country Representative, Rise Up
  • Ignite Talk Four: Shirley Miske, President and CEO, Miske Witt and Associates, Inc.

The event was reported live from New York on @IIEglobal, using hashtags #girlsCHARGE and #girlsEDU on Twitter. Attendees joined in the conversation by tagging @IIEglobal and using hashtags #girlsCHARGE, #girlsEDU, #powerofIE; and #UNGA.