Engaging local education leadership to drive GESI implementation forward
As part of ongoing efforts to promote Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in education, a cross-sectoral meeting with district-level educational officers, including the Chief Dzongkhag Education Officer, was held on 22 May 2025 in Samtse Dzongkhag to discuss the project’s background, scope, and implementation. The session brought together the GESI team, led by Dr. Kinley Seden, and Mr. Tashi, Chief Dzongkhag Education Officer (DEO), to review project progress and plan upcoming interventions.
The session began with a reflection on the initiative’s progress, highlighting key insights from the situational analysis and baseline data. Emphasis was placed on transforming these research findings into practical, locally relevant interventions that address the unique needs of students in the five pilot schools. This discussion underscored the critical role of active collaboration with the Dzongkhag Education Office, especially as project interventions are scheduled to be rolled out starting July 2025.
A central focus of the meeting was the planned launch of LIKE Clubs in five pilot schools across Samtse. These clubs aim to promote Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) through a series of inclusive activities tailored to each school’s context. This initiative builds on a recent consultative workshop held on 17 May 2025, where school leaders and designated GESI focal teachers collaboratively reviewed and refined the club activities. Speaking to the team, Mr. Tashi acknowledged the heavy workload that teachers currently manage but expressed confidence that, given the thorough consultations and careful planning of the club activities, the schools will find ways to successfully integrate the LIKE Clubs into their schedules.
Plan to ensure these GESI-related initiatives remain sustainable within each school’s unique environment was also discussed. The discussions also explored the importance of intersectionality in education, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient. Instead, the initiative seeks to address the complex and varied identities of students as well as schools to create more equitable and inclusive learning spaces.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from both the Dzongkhag Education Office and the GESI team to enhance coordination, responsiveness to local needs, and continuity in efforts to advance gender equality and social inclusion across Samtse’s schools.
