By GEORGINA MICHAEL
The Department of Education today officially launched its Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy and Implementation Guidelines at Vulupindi Haus, Port Moresby.
The launch calls for collective action to strengthen equity in education service delivery and address gender equity and social inclusion issues across the department.
The Department of Education Public Service GESI Policy aims to foster an inclusive, safe, accessible and conducive working environment for all public servants, while improving equity in the delivery of education services.
The policy addresses situations where individuals may be directly or indirectly disadvantaged or discriminated against, including women and people with special needs.
Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra said as leaders in education, they have the responsibility to model the values they expect schools to demonstrate and students to respect.
“As leaders in education, we have the responsibility to model the values that we expect our schools to demonstrate and our students to respect – fairness, integrity, inclusion and accountability. Those are all part of this policy,” Dr. Kombra said.
“The policy challenges each of us to examine how we lead our teams and divisions, how we support our colleagues, and how we create workplaces where everyone feels safe to contribute and where every talent and commitment is recognized.”
Minister for Education Hon. Francis Kikin Siune urged for the policy to be practically implemented, noting it goes beyond gender.
“This policy must be practically implemented. Importantly, this policy extends beyond gender. It recognizes the value of people living with disabilities. It must recognize employees from different provinces, different cultures, and people at different stages of their careers,” Minister Siune said.
“This policy is a policy for fair treatment of everyone. Diversity is our biggest strength. As champions of education, we serve every child in this country. Our own workplace must reflect the values of inclusion and respect that we promote throughout our education system.”
Minister Siune also thanked development partner-Australian Government, saying he looks forward to the policy being practised and implemented under the leadership of the Secretary.
“As Minister for Education, I’ll be watching for results, not just the existence of this policy, but its impact on who is recruited, who is promoted, and whose voice is heard in our education system,” Minister Siune said.
“A fair Department of Education today is an investment in a fair public service by 2050. That is the promise that this Government intends to keep.”