Summary of E-discussion on Gender Equality MDG and Task Force Report

What do civil society organisations think about the progress on achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of universal primary education? This document summarises an electronic discussion of 1200 participants from among NGOs and civil society groups on the interim report prepared in early 2004 by the Millennium Project Task Force on Education and Gender Equality. There was a general consensus on the need to expand the gender equality goal from education to include other areas (such as reproductive health and freedom from violence) and a concern that the report does not mention that schools often reproduce gender stereotyping and are not always positive environments for girls. Recommendations include: produce a report that focuses on why countries have failed to achieve the gender and education target with proposals for radical action (such as abolishing all user fees for primary and secondary education); make schools and other institutions more responsive to women, including ensuring that schools transform rather than reproduce prejudice and discrimination; recognise the impact of HIV/AIDS, conflict, and globalisation on women's empowerment; and make use of additional strategies such as adult literacy and non-formal education.