91�鶹������Ʒ����

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive — yet today, 129 million boys are out of school globally. 

According to UNESCO’s report, based on data from over 140 countries, boys are more likely to repeat grades and fall behind in reading — with some of the widest gender gaps found in countries like South Africa. 

In , PIRLS 2021 data show that boys perform lower than girls, and the share of boys not reaching minimum proficiency levels in reading is higher by around 10 percentage points. Added to this, grade repetition rates remain consistently higher for boys, a key predictor of early dropout. This pattern is not unique. Across Southern Africa, boys in Namibia and Lesotho often leave school early to herd livestock or seek work. In Malawi, economic pressure and gender expectations can lead to early exit from education. 

These challenges are shaped by many factors: poverty, corporal punishment, bullying, and the belief that education is not compatible with what it means to be “a real man.” Rigid norms of masculinity continue to push boys toward risk and away from learning. 

The costs are high. The Price of Inaction report from UNESCO, the OECD, and the Commonwealth Secretariat estimates that boys not achieving basic skills costs countries up to 11% of GDP annually. Beyond the economic toll, education influences broader outcomes: educated boys are more likely to support gender equality, reject violence, and lead healthier lives. 

Encouragingly, change is taking root. In 2024, Malawi and Lesotho, UNESCO together with Equimundo and University of East Anglia launched the “Lifting Barriers” initiative, exploring how schools can promote positive and healthy masculinities and reduce dropouts. In Namibia, UNESCO supported the launch of Redefining Manhood, a book and boys’ club manual aimed at empowering the boy child, promoting equality, and inspiring leadership. 

South Africa is emerging as a regional leader. On 16 May, the Department of Basic Education will host “The Legends, The Youngins and The Boys”, an intergenerational assembly uniting students, public figures, and policymakers to share experiences and build strategies to support boys’ education and wellbeing.  

There is no internationally recognised Day of the Boy Child yet! But this initiative shows growing awareness that boys, like girls, need support that responds to their specific needs and realities. Addressing boys’ education is not about shifting focus away from girls. It is about ensuring every child has a fair chance to learn, grow, and thrive. 

Click to join the coversation: https://shorturl.at/siRkx