UN Women partners with Millennium Challenge Account-Georgia to mainstream gender in professional training of school principals

Thirty-four trainers of the Teachers’ Professional Development Center (TPDC) underwent intensive trainings on gender equality issues during two sessions organized jointly by UN Women and Millennium Challenge Account - Georgia (MCA-Georgia).

The trainers will apply their newly acquired knowledge to the continuing education of public school teachers and principals throughout the country. The training programme focused on the topics of women’s rights and gender equality, implicit and explicit gender bias in education, non-discriminatory teaching practices, gender-sensitive attitudes and non-stereotypical ways of thinking. Trainees also engaged in a gender analysis exercise, reflecting new knowledge and discussing its further use.

Ms. Ketevan Maminaishvili, Gender and Social Inclusion Director of MCA-Georgia, underlined that “MCA-Georgia recognizes gender and social inequality as a significant constraint to poverty reduction and economic development. MCA is therefore committed to promote gender equality and social integration at every stage of the implementation of our educational initiatives.”

“The training helped me to understand many gender stereotypes that I have not identified before,” remarked Mr. TamazTskhadadze, a training participant. “It has had an impact on my personal perceptions of everyday situations. It has helped me to rethink many ‘clear’ concepts.”

UN Women Representative Erika Kvapilova stated, “Systematically and appropriately integrating human rights and gender equality issues in education is essential for achieving transformative change and breaking gender stereotypes, which hinder development of individuals and societies. Aware of that, UN Women seeks to seize any opportunity to partner with educational institutions and initiatives, such as that of MCA”.