The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has joined hands with the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) to hold a 3-day international conference to evaluate gender differences in education and explore new learning opportunities for young women and men.
 
"Challenges and Possibilities in Gender Equity Education: The Second International Conference in the Asia-Pacific Region" opened today (22 June, 2006) with over 100 expert speakers and participants from 11 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Korea, India, Indonesia and mainland China. Academic presentations, workshops and a youth forum will span the three-day international conference to examine gender differences in teaching boys and girls.    
 
"We firmly believe that equality and inclusion are important to every society, and equal access to education for both genders is an important aspect of our work. The complexities of systemic discrimination and barriers are often difficult to grasp. The challenge for all of us is to identify and address the inequalities and barriers in education for both genders," said Mr. Raymond TANG Yee-bong, Chairperson of the EOC, at the opening ceremony of the conference.

"This international conference provides a valuable chance for academics, teachers and experts in the field to share research statistics, publications and experiences on the various perspectives and issues related to gender equity in education. I am certain all participants will explore possibilities for future collaboration, and return home with enriched knowledge and resources to further the cause of gender equity in the field of education," Mr. Tang added.

Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony held at the HKIEd Tai Po campus included Professor Paul Morris, President of the HKIEd, Professor Bernard Hung-kay Luk, Vice-President (Academic) of the HKIEd, and Dr. Pattie Yuk-yee Luk-Fong, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Gender Equity Education Conference.

A Youth Forum, co-organized by the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women and the Organizing Committee of the Gender Equity Education Conference will be held for secondary school and university students in the afternoon of the last day of the conference. 

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Mariana Law at 2106 2226.