The pursuit of gender equality is central to the vision of sustainability where each member of society respects others and fulfils her/his potential. The broader goal of gender equality is a societal one to which education and all other social institutions, must contribute.

Discrimination based on gender is often woven into the fabric of societies. In many societies, women bear the major burden of responsibility for food production and child-rearing. Furthermore, they are often excluded from family and community decisions affecting their lives and well-being.

Gender issues must therefore be mainstreamed throughout educational planning – from infrastructure planning to material development to pedagogical processes. The full and equal engagement of women is crucial to ensuring a sustainable future because:

• Gender roles are created by society and are learned from one generation to the next;
• Gender roles are social constructs and can be changed to achieve equity and equality for women and men;
• Empowering women is an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty;
• Gender inequalities undermine the ability of women and girls to exercise their rights;
• Ensuring gender equality for girls and boys means that they have equal opportunities to enter school and equal opportunities while enrolled in school.