News
International Women’s Day: Investment in girls' education pays off
Countries’ commitments to girls’ education are really paying off. UNESCO’s new data shows that when efforts and resources are mobilized for education, we can create real change for girls, their families and their societies. An educated girl will be healthier, will have better living standards, will be more empowered and will have a better chance of a decent job. Her education is our combined future. This is always a wise investment.
More countries guarantee educational rights of girls and women
Entitled , the fact sheet demonstrates that countries’ increased commitment to girls’ education that has made a difference. In 1995, the Beijing Platform for Action urged countries to eliminate gender discrimination in education. Today, 105 countries prohibit it in their constitution, according to UNESCO’s interactive tool, , that explores the educational rights of girls and women worldwide.
Stubborn pockets of exclusion remain
Behind the global figures, however, stubborn pockets of exclusion remain. The ten countries with the highest for girls are all in Africa apart from Afghanistan. In eight of them, over half of school-aged girls are out of school; in Afghanistan, 75% of girls are out of school.
Late enrolment and repetition remain a major barrier for young women’s school trajectories in sub-Saharan Africa. Young men can afford to be late completers but young women who are not on course to finish upper secondary school on time, are under pressure to marry and have children. There has been no progress in addressing this challenge in the past 20 years.
Exclusion from education is caused by multiple factors, - including child marriage, early pregnancy, discriminatory gender norms in society, child labour and the lack of easy and safe access to schools near where they live. These girls deserve a second chance. UNESCO calls on donors and governments to renew their commitments to invest in girls’ education.
Being female, being poor and living in a rural area reduce educational opportunities
Not all countries have disaggregated data from household surveys in the last 5 years. Of those that do, 10 countries have been selected to demonstrate the plight of the poorest girls facing the most extreme disadvantages. data show that at least 7 in 10 of the poorest young women of upper secondary school age are out of school in these 10 countries. In Guinea and Mali, almost no poor young women are in school, putting them at the same disadvantage as Afghan girls officially banned from going to school.
In Mozambique, there are 73 young women in school for every 100 young men – although there is gender parity in urban areas, there are 53 young women in school for every 100 young men in rural areas. Wealth is an even greater factor in education inequalities. In Côte d’Ivoire, there are 72 young women in school – but only 22 poor young women – for every 100 young men.
More must be done to encourage girls to study Science, Technology and Maths (STEM)
Gender remains one of the strongest determinants of the likelihood of pursuing education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Grade 8 boys were more willing to pursue a mathematics-related occupation than their female schoolmates in 87% of the education systems participating in the
Documentary screening: Her Education, Our Future
7 March, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Room I, UNESCO Headquarters, 125 avenue Suffren, 75007 Paris
Journalists are invited to attend the screening of a documentary film produced by China Global Television Network in partnership with UNESCO, and released together with Her Education, Our Future factsheet. It tells the story of four girls on three continents - Anee from Pakistan, Mkasi from Tanzania, and Fabiana and Tania from Brazil – who have all benefited from UNESCO programmes aimed at widening their access to education, enhancing their skills for life and work, and expanding their educational and career opportunities.
