In continuation of implementing SPA ii Action Aid project, the Paramount Young Women Initiative (PAYOWI) recently organized a two-day training for education stakeholders to strengthen understanding on how budgets are drawn, beginning from the household to national levels.
The training was done in two of its implementing counties–Bong and Gbapolu.
PAYOWI through it program officer, Hawa C. Wilson said, despite some progress made toward the education sector, yet the education sector is still facing numerous challenges in term of accessing good school materials, affordability, deliverables, limited teachers, limited access to adequate information, violence and abuses in schools/communities amongst several others.
The targeted beneficiaries for this activity are school administrators, teachers, Parents Teachers Association (PTAs), community leaders and youth groups including physically challenged as well as other marginalized groups.
Mrs. Wilson added, the SPA ii project will help engage and empower school administrators, teachers and other influential stakeholders liked to education through an effort to help create an enabling environment to advocate and lobby for gender response services within their various locals to effect change at the country level.
According to the PAYOWI program officer, poverty violates human rights and its happens because of unequal power relations which starts in the family and extend up to the global level.
She explained that violations of Human Rights are often a result of failures in governance and governance is about relationships between the citizens and the state and the way the state uses its power and authority to manage its political, economic and administrative affairs.
The training was organized for thirty education sectors fifteen from each county to actively be engaged and visible within in their institutions/ communities as well as take actions for accountability Mrs. Wilson said.
According to the PAYOWI official, the aim of the activity is to improve citizens engagement and community-led strategies to influence change and participate in decision making processes on delivery of gender responsive public services.
Discussion at the training highlighted legal frame works on education, tracking the education budget cycle, establishment of county school board and the establishment of county education forum and discussion on promoting hygiene learning environment.
It’s aimed at equipping educational stakeholders, school administrators, teachers with the right knowledge, values, skills and attitudes to understand their rights to promote social justice and effective usage of the Gender Response Services (GRPs) through education.