In Mozambique, Eduardo Mondlane University (EMU), with support from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), recently concluded a three-day workshop for the faculty of education. The workshop brought together 20 educators and researchers with the aims of adapting the Gender Green Teacher (GGT) programme to the local context for implementation using open and distance learning (ODL) and extending the programme’s reach to teachers nationwide.

In fact, GGT is an ICT-enabled, in-service professional development training course designed to enable teachers to seamlessly incorporate gender and environmental content into the teaching-learning process. It was initially developed in English in partnership with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in India. Since 2023, COL began supporting teacher education institutions in the Commonwealth to adapt and implement the programme in their specific context. Thus, EMU became the first educational institution to launch GGT in Portuguese – its official and working language.

In her opening remarks at the workshop, Dr Nilza César, EMU Deputy Director underscored the importance of understanding and addressing complex gender and environmental issues, especially in the face of significant global changes. She explained, “This programme provides a crucial platform for dialogue to deepen our comprehension of the interconnectedness of gender and environmental relations. The contextualised programme is poised to transcend borders and make a profound impact on society.”

Dr Evode Mukama, COL Adviser for Teacher Education, added, “The adaptation of the GGT programme to the Mozambican context making use of technology-enabled learning aligns with COL’s objectives to support the continuous professional development of teachers and develop quality learning resources which address gender and environmental issues.”