Chad is set to release a new handbook that integrates gender equality and climate change into its national school curricula. This development follows a key validation workshop held from 15 - 17 March 2025 in Mailaou, located 80 km south of the capital, N'Djamena. The workshop was supported financially by the African Development Bank Group.

"Mainstreaming gender in education promotes equal opportunity, ensuring that all students--regardless of gender or social background--have fair access to knowledge," said Aboubakar Assidick Tchoroma, Minister of Education and Civic Promotion. "At the same time, climate change is a global challenge with visible consequences. Educating younger generations about these issues is essential to building a more resilient and inclusive society."

Held under the framework of the Girls' Education and Women's Literacy Project (PEFAF), the workshop brought together around 30 participants from the Ministry of Education and Civic Promotion, the Ministry of Women and Childhood, the Ministry of the Environment, Fishing and Sustainable Development, as well as representatives from civil society and education experts.

"The themes of gender and climate change--though distinct--are deeply interconnected. It is crucial that we embed them in our education system to prepare students to become responsible and informed citizens," stated Ali Moussa Bedei, interim coordinator of the PEFAF project.

Prior to the workshop, a team of multidisciplinary experts had been working since August 2024 on updating the school curricula. Their focus was on incorporating gender and climate-related content into learning programs. This process culminated in the adoption of a draft version of the new handbook.

Minister Tchoroma welcomed this advancement, which coincides with Women's Month, as a significant milestone. "Education must respond to today's pressing challenges--gender inequality and the climate crisis. Our curricula must evolve to equip young people to become active citizens, aware of environmental issues and committed to fairness."

This initiative marks a pivotal moment in Chad's educational reform efforts and underscores the government's commitment to using education as a lever for sustainable development and equal opportunity.

The Girls' Education and Women's Literacy Project (PEFAF) seeks to enhance equitable access to quality education for girls and promote functional literacy for women, thereby improving the overall well-being of Chad's population. The project includes initiatives such as the rehabilitation of the Amriguébé school complex in N'Djamena and the construction of a new secondary school for girls in Massakory, Hadjer Lamis.