Vientiane: Mr. Phimmasone Sisaath, Deputy Head of the MoES Cabinet Office, chaired the inaugural technical workshop aimed at designing the Gender-Equitable Management (GEM) tool. The Division for the Advancement of Women, Mother and Child (MDAW) spearheaded the initiative, bringing together over 60 participants from various sectors, including Committees for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children, Provincial Education and Sports Services (PESS), District Education and Sports Bureaus (DESB), Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), and BEQUAL experts.
According to Lao News Agency, Mr. Phimmasone Sisaath underscored the tool’s necessity, stating that MDAW recognized the demand for a simple, practical instrument to transform workplace culture in education, science, and sports. The GEM tool aims to assist MoES departments, TTCs, PESS, and DESBs in evaluating their practices, formulating action plans, and eliminating obstacles to women’s leadership participation. He expressed gratitude to Australia for supporting this endeavor and encouraged contributions from all participants to develop a tool tailored to the Lao context, guiding workplace culture change across the sector.
Mr. Michael Currie, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy, elaborated on Australia’s perspective, emphasizing that gender equality is fundamental to Australia and is integral to its International Gender Equality Strategy. He highlighted the significance of women’s political and economic participation in fostering more prosperous and peaceful societies. Australia is proud to support MoES in developing the GEM tool to raise awareness of the gender and social norms influencing workplace culture in education, thereby removing barriers to women’s leadership roles.
During the five-day workshop, participants engaged in hands-on activities to deepen their understanding of gender and social norms, aiming to translate this knowledge into a practical tool. The workshop commenced with data analysis from surveys conducted with internal pedagogical support staff, followed by discussions in small groups. An ‘iceberg’ activity linked visible behaviors with the underlying attitudes, social norms, and assumptions driving them.
Participants compared three international gender assessment tools to identify features suitable for adaptation to the Lao context. They mapped local social norms, institutional barriers, and enabling factors relevant to MoES at both central and subnational levels. The latter part of the workshop focused on collaborative drafting, where participants identified the GEM tool’s core domains, proposed indicators, and outlined the overall structure. Participatory approaches, such as a gallery walk, were utilized to test and refine the draft structure and indicators.
Mr. Vanmany Vannasy, Head of MDAW, outlined the next steps, stating that the Technical Working Group will refine the agreed outline and reconvene for a second workshop at the end of June to develop the first full draft of the GEM tool. The aim is to finalize a pilot-ready tool by December 2026, with subsequent revisions for broader rollout across MoES departments and subnational offices.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Phimmasone Sisaath urged participants to share their views openly, engage constructively, and listen carefully. He emphasized the importance of examining how gender and social norms shape schools and workplaces, challenging assumptions, and developing practical steps for change.
Mr. Michael Currie reiterated Australia’s expectations for the GEM tool’s impact, anticipating more inclusive workplace cultures, greater representation of women in leadership, and practical actions bridging the gap between policy and practice. Through the partnership with MoES, the tool is expected to be scaled across the system, leading to improved opportunities and learning outcomes for all children.