How can we make education accessible for all?

Watch the recording here

Educators carry a specific role in making sure that girls and others who menstruate feel safe and at ease when in school, to ensure that they receive the best education possible. This is crucial in combatting gender inequality in educational attainment, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed in the job market.

So what can we do to make assure that no one misses out on important school days?

The ability to manage one’s periods safely and with dignity is essential staying in school and keep focused on learning. In Nepal more than 40% of girls reported missing school during menstruation. In the UK it’s estimated that over 137 000 children miss school each year because they can’t afford tampons or other period products.

In this webinar we highlighted some case studies and good examples of what can be done to tackle this issue and keep education gender equal.

We heard from experts from Scotland, Bolivia and Sweden and had a discussion about lessons learnt from these countries, and what measures can be implemented elsewhere.

The presentations were be followed by a panel discussion about lessons learnt from each country and with a Q&A from the audience.

AGENDA

Introduction – What is the current situation for girls in school?

Virginia Mariezcurrena – Programme Manager, Water & Sanitation, SIWI

Presentations – Country case studies:

Polly Heine from the Hygiene Bank will present the strides that have been made in Scotland, the first country in the world to offer free menstrual hygiene products to their menstruating population. The Hygiene Bank is a grassroots, people-powered charity and social movement that fights hygiene poverty across the UK. Teresa Calderòn is a communication for development specialist and an independent consultant for the Urban Decentralized Sanitation Program, financed by UNICEF and the Swedish Embassy in Bolivia. She will showcase the programmes that target schools in Bolivia. Kerstin Isaxon, an expert in sexual education at RFSU, the leading sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) organisation in Sweden. She will present the current progress and challenges that remain to ensure girls – and others who menstruate – are not hindered from attending schools in Sweden.