The UN Sustainable Development Goal, agreed by all governments of the world, comprise 17 goals that are intended to improve living conditions and stimulate development in all its forms. In Eritrea gender equality is not only a goal, but an essential ingredient for achieving all the SDGs, be it ending poverty, ending hunger, ensure healthy lives, ensure quality education, achieve gender equality, water and sanitation, economic growth, and promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.
At national level, Eritrea has been involved in meeting the SDGs and has achieved progress toward gender equality in many areas that help to further each of the remaining SDGs. Eritrea has introduced progressive laws and prepared the ground for women where they can have a dignified life. The participation and engagement on the part of women, the attitudinal change on the part of the society and the commitment on the part of the government altogether creates a promising condition for women.
Gender equality in education is a fundamental human right, and the government has been taken major steps in order to empower women to be full and equal partners and contributors in the society. Today, Eritrean women are no longer naive and shy as they were in the past. The educational opportunity they have been using has enabled them to become confident and active members of the society. They demonstrate their confidence, courage, and creativity at various national platforms.
Historically, women enrolment in education in Eritrea was limited due to various reasons. Even if they were enrolled, they did not stay long in education. School drop-out was high among female students. However, today, due to mobilization campaigns, gender awareness has increased in the society and girls drop-out decreased. At present, we can understand from the records of Warsay Yikealo Secondary School that gender equality has progressed significantly in secondary schools. The number of secondary schools has increased nationwide from 19 in 1991/1992 to 100 secondary schools at present. The expansion of secondary schools enabled Eritrean girls to stay longer and continue their education. In the academic year (2023/2024), the national secondary school of Warsay Yikealo received 17,627 students, of which women constituted 49.92% of the total number.
The enrollment of women in Eritrean Institutions of Higher Education has shown significant rise. For example, in 2009/2010, women constituted 25.62% from total student enrolment in higher education. Since then, Eritrea has achieved meaningful transformation in narrowing the gender gap in higher education. In this academic year women constituted 49% out of the total number of students in Eritrea’s Institutions of higher Education.
Eritrean women have now the opportunity to work side by side with men in all fields. They enjoy the same rights regarding area of specialization, place of work and wages. Having ratified the ILO convention, Eritrea has been committed to providing equal opportunities for men and women in training, employment, remuneration and other work-related conditions.
Written by Simon Weldemichael