The focus of this conference was to tackle major disadvantages - such as gender, socio-economic status and place of residence - that hamper the equitable distribution of schooling opportunities. More in particular, the conference lloked into the issues of access to and transitions between school cycles: from early childhood to primary, from primary to secondary, from secondary to higher, but also the school-to-work transition.

The objective was to bring under discussion interventions, programs, measures and experiences for improving equity in access and transitions. Geographically speaking, the spotlight was on Latin America, Sub Saharan Africa, North Africa and South East Asia.

9:15-10:35

SESSION 1

  • Extending education and training opportunities to disadvantaged children and youth: Key messages from the 2012 Education for All Global Monitoring Report 
    François Leclercq, UNESCO Global Monitoring Report Team
     
  • Gender Equity in Sciences, Mathematics and Technology
    Prof. Verdiana Masanja, National University of Rwanda
11:00-12:20

SESSION 2

  • Success in Life for Urban At-Risk Youth
    Vilmi Durán, Gerente Promoción y Recaudaciones, NGO Muchachas y Muchachos con Don Bosco, Dominican Republic
     
  • Education progress in South Asia: The dynamics between access, equity and learning
    Lieke van de Wiel, Regional Education Advisor, Regional Office for South-Asia UNICEF
12:20-13:30

LUNCH

13:30-17:30

BREAK-OUT SESSIONS

SESSION A

Equity in transition from ECCE to primary education
 

  • The investment in Home Visit Programs in rural indigenous communities as a strategy to get through school
    J. Leonardo Yánez, Program Officer Bernard Van Leer Foundation
     

  • Improving achievement in primary education through an integrated early childhood care and development approach: a case from Plan Cambodia
    Hans De Greve, Research and Advocacy Advisor Plan Belgium

SESSION B

Equity in transition from primary to secondary and from secondary to tertiary education
 

  • Inequity in transition from primary to secondary education in Sub-Saharan Africa: example of Kenya
    Dr. Moses O’Ketch, Reader in Educational Planning and International Development, University of London
     

  • The transition from primary education to secondary education in Ecuador
    Carlos Crespo, collaborator VVOB Ecuador
     

  • Institutional and societal factors that impede or promote women access and participation in PhD education: Case study National University of Rwanda
    Prof. Verdiana Masanja, National University of Rwanda

SESSION C

Equity in transition from education to the world of work
 

  • Youth transition from education to work in the Mediterranean Region : the ETF experience with partner countries
    Francesca Rosso, Junior Specialist in Employment, European Training Foundation Operations
     

  • Skilling India’s BPL youth ... and making sure they land a job
    Joseph Aikarchalil, National Director, DBTech
     

  • The transition from education to work, a tool for guidance and improvement of education in the intervention area of the project FORAP NORD 
    Mohamed Azlal, Co_responsable du Projet FORAP NORD, BTC-CTB