Social problems such as violence, sexual abuse, learner pregnancy, HIV/Aids and other problems related to the abuse of human rights are becoming common in our schools and communities. In many ways these problems become a barrier for learners who are victims, survivors or in some way affected.
The occurrence of these problems in our schools and communities undermines children’s constitutional rights to exist in a safe and secure environment, have equal access to quality education and their right to equality and dignity.
One strategy the department of education has introduced to counter some of these societal challenges is the Girls Education Movement (GEM) and the Boys Education Movement (BEM).
The GEM/BEM is an international movement. In Africa the movement was first launched in 2001 in Kampala, Uganda. In South Africa it was piloted in 2002 in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The national department of education formalised the movement for boys and girls and launched it as a national programme in 2003.
The GEM/BEM set up school-based clubs made up of girls and boys who are committed to the promotion of equal human rights, dignity for all and mutual respect between girls and boys. These clubs are the department’s avenue to inculcate in young people constructive values and to empower them with life skills to help them cope better with different social problems.
GEM/BEM club members receive training on different topics, including how to form a club and make it work, peer education and other issues related to the promotion of equal access to education for girls and boys. Learners who participate in these clubs form partnerships for support with educators in their schools, parents, adults in their communities and officials in the national, provincial and district offices.
The most important thing about the GEM/BEM is that the clubs are for learners and by learners. This means that the clubs are about the girls and boys who are members. The girls and boys decide on the management, focus and activities of their clubs. In other words adults and educators are not supposed to play a role apart from assisting and supporting young people in the GEM/BEM clubs. The GEM/BEM clubs are run in many schools nationally, with support from both national and provincial departments of education and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).
What do the GEM/BEM clubs aim to achieve?
Girls and boys who participate in the GEM/BEM clubs are empowered with the knowledge to recognise and understand the negative influence that social ills have on the lives of young people. They form the clubs so that they can work together to restore positive values in their schools and communities as a way of preventing these problems and reducing their negative effect on young people. The clubs recognise that gender Âinequality is a violation of girls’ human and constitutional rights and they work together to promote gender equality in education and in all other areas of life.
The department hosts a national GEM/BEM camp each year where the provinces and international guests showcase their GEM/BEM club activities and participate in other planned educational and Ârecreational activities.
Educators can inform learners about the GEM/BEM and guide and support them in forming and running the clubs. This is intended to help learners find spaces where they can trade knowledge and engage in positive and empowering activities.
Jamela Robertson is from the department of education’s gender equity directorate. For more information on how to start a club in your school contact the directorate on 012 312 5420 / 5383 / 5428 / 5413 or fax 012 312 5218.