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Girls’ education

This page looks at why girls and young women miss out on school - even though educating girls has huge benefits for health, prosperity and security. This page explains more about the impact of a safe, quality education for girls and examines the barriers that prevent them from getting an education.

The issue of girls and education, what progress has been made on girls' education, why is educating girls so important, what are the barriers to girls' education, useful links.

Girls have the right same right to education as boys. Educated girls can make informed choices – and from a far better range of options. Educating girls saves lives and builds stronger families, communities and economies.

An educated female population increases a country’s productivity and fuels economic growth. Some countries lose more than $1 billion a year by failing to educate girls to the same level as boys.

Despite this, girls and young women in many parts of the world miss out on school every day. Around 61 million girls are of school, according to UNICEF in 2016 – 32 million girls of primary school age and 29 million of lower secondary school age.

Often, girls are marginalised and are out of school simply because they are girls and it is not the cultural norm. Their chances of getting a quality education are even smaller if they come from a poor family, live in a rural area or have a disability.

Girls are four times more likely to be out of school than boys from the same background. The poorest girls also have the least likelihood of completing primary school.

There are often legal, religious and traditional practices that discriminate against girls having the chance to get an education.

There has been improvement in gender equality in education. Between 2000 and 2015, the number of girls for every 100 boys in primary education rose from 92 to 97 and from 91 to 97 in secondary education.

The number of countries that achieved gender parity in both primary and secondary education from 2000 to 2015 increased from 36 to 62. But the overall improvement does not tell the full story. Some parts of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia, are not making as much progress.

Only two of 35 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have equal numbers of girls and boys in school – the lowest proportion of countries with gender parity – according to the Education Commission’s Learning Generation report in 2016.

In South and West Asia, 80% of out-of-school girls are unlikely ever to start school, compared to just 16% of boys.

Many countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, have seen attacks on girls’ education and threats to close down schools.

The world has committed to continue to make progress through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals . Goal 4 aims to “ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education”. Goal 5 is focused on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

"Every girl, no matter where she lives, no matter what her circumstance, has a right to learn. Every leader, no matter who he or she is or the resources available to him or her, has a duty to fulfil and protect this right." Malala Yousafzai, Student, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Co-Founder of the Malala Fund, in the foreword to the research report 'What Works in Girls' Education

Every child has a right to learn and get a good quality education, regardless of gender, where they live or their circumstances.

Because educated girls can make informed choices from a far better range of options, educating girls saves lives and builds stronger families, communities and economies. With an education, girls will understand their rights, have a greater sense what is needed to support health and wellbeing, and they will have greater opportunities to be employed in a fulfilling way and achieve their full potential.

Here are just some of the benefits of giving girls an equal opportunity to be educated:

• Economic growth

Education for girls and boys increases productivity and contributes to economic growth. Globally, women are not in the formal job market as much as men but many studies show there are economic benefits if they are allowed to join the labour force.

Educating girls and young women increases a country’s productivity and contributes to economic growth. Some countries lose more than $1 billion a year by failing to educate girls to the same level as boys.

A woman with an education can get a better job with higher wages and has the effect of addressing gender imbalances in the labour force. Increased levels of education have a greater positive impact on women’s wages.

According to an International Labor Organization report, “Educating girls has proven to be one of the most important ways of breaking poverty cycles and is likely to have significant impacts on access to formal jobs in the longer term.”

• Health knowledge saves children’s lives

A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five. Over the past four decades, the global increase in women’s education has prevented more than four million child deaths.

Educated mothers are better informed about sanitation, nutrition and immunisation for their children, leading to fewer child deaths from preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria or from malnutrition.

• Smaller and more sustainable families

Girls’ education helps reduce population growth. Educated women have fewer pregnancies and are also less likely to become pregnant as teenagers.

In many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the birth rate among girls with secondary education is four times lower compared to those with no education.

• Reduced infection rates for HIV/AIDS and malaria

When researchers analysed the declining HIV/AIDS infection rate in Zimbabwe from 29% of the population to 16% from 1997 to 2007, they found that high levels of girls completing secondary education was an important factor in making awareness campaigns and efforts to reduce infection by partners more effective.

Better-educated girls and women are also more likely to use techniques to prevent malaria, such as using bed nets, and are less likely to become infected.

• Fewer girls in child marriages

Girls who are better educated are less likely to be married as children and are more likely to have opportunities for a healthier and more prosperous life for themselves and their families.

Across 18 of the 20 countries with the highest prevalence of child marriage, girls with no education are up to six times more likely to marry as children than girls with a secondary education.

• Better prepared for natural disasters and climate change

Higher levels of education generally help prepare families for coping with shocks. Girls’ education in particular is associated with reduced injury and death and increased family and community resilience from the hazards of natural disasters and extreme weather that results from climate change.

A 2010 World Bank study of developing countries from 1960 to 2003 found that countries with higher levels of female schooling were less likely to suffer high rates of death, injury, and displacement due to weather disasters.

• More control over their lives

When girls go to school, they grow into women who have more say over their lives and have an increased sense of their worth and capabilities. They are less likely to be subjected to domestic violence and will participate more in decision-making in households.

• More skills to be leaders

Education helps women to gain the skills needed to take on leadership roles at local and national levels. Better-educated women are more likely to join bodies, whether volunteer or elected, where they can take part in making decisions that affect their lives and those of their communities.

They include:

• Poverty and child labour

Girls from the poorest and rural households face the greatest disadvantages because parents are less educated and therefore may value education less. Rural communities have fewer support systems, often forcing girls to work or manage their household.

Many girls begin working as early as five years old – mainly in agriculture or in homes as domestic servants. Child domestic workers have limited or no access to education as employers often do not allow them to enrol in school.

• Caring for relatives

Women and girls disproportionately share the burden and care of ill family members and relatives. This affects not only whether they can attend school but also the time and energy they can devote to schoolwork.

• Water and sanitation

Due to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, poor girls can spend six hours each day collecting water, leaving little time for school. Those girls who do go to school often drop out when they start to menstruate because there is no safe place to keep clean at school.

• Conflict and emergencies

Girls living in conflict-affected countries are 90% more likely to be out of secondary school than those living in peaceful areas. Schools can be destroyed in conflict situations, while targeted attacks on girls’ schools can make parents afraid to send their daughters to school. In humanitarian emergencies, including natural disasters, increased poverty for families and lack of employment opportunities means girls are at higher risk of early marriage or ending up in prostitution.

• Child marriage

Every year 15 million girls under the age of 18 become wives – an average of 40,000 every day. Marriage interrupts and ends girls’ education so they don’t gain the skills that could lift them out of poverty – over 60% of child brides in developing countries have no formal education. Many cannot return to school after marriage because they cannot afford to pay school fees. Child marriage also means girls have early and frequent pregnancies, which contributes to higher rates of girls dropping out of school.

Each year about 16 million girls between 15 and 19 give birth. Stigma, lack of support and discriminatory laws around pregnancy exclude girls from school, forcing them to stay at home and care for their children. Childcare and flexible school programmes or adult classes are not available to them.

Globally between 93 million and 150 million children live with a disability. The World Health Organization and the World Bank estimate that in some countries “being disabled more than doubles the chance of never enrolling in school”.

Girls with disabilities face discrimination both because of their gender and their disability, making them among the most marginalised groups of children. Respondents to the World Health Survey 2002-2004 indicated that 41.7% of girls with a disability completed primary school compared to 52.9% for those without a disability.

What Works in Girls’ Education: Evidence for the World’s Best Investment : Read the research report on the Brooking Institution website.

United Nations Girls Education Initiative : More information about the issue and the efforts to address it.

The importance of educating girls

In far too many countries around the world, an education is not a given for girls. These moving talks are from those facing great risk to change that.

My daughter, Malala

A girl who demanded school

How I stopped the Taliban from shutting down my school

Dare to educate Afghan girls

Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls

Girls' Education

Every day, girls face barriers to education caused by poverty, cultural norms and practices, poor infrastructure, violence and fragility. Girls’ education is a strategic development priority for the World Bank.

Ensuring that all girls and young women receive a quality education is their human right, a global development priority, and a strategic priority for the World Bank. 

Achieving gender equality is central to the World Bank Group mission to end poverty on a livable planet. As the largest financing development partner in education globally, the World Bank ensures that all of its education projects are gender-sensitive, and works to overcome barriers that are preventing girls and boys from equally benefiting from countries’ investments in education.

Girls’ education goes beyond getting girls into school. It is also about ensuring that girls learn and feel safe while in school; have the opportunity to complete all levels of education, acquiring the knowledge and skills to compete in the labor market ; gain socio-emotional and life skills necessary to navigate and adapt to a changing world; make decisions about their own lives ; and contribute to their communities and the world.

Both individuals and countries benefit from girls’ education. Better educated women tend to be more informed about nutrition and healthcare, have fewer children, marry at a later age, and their children are usually healthier, should they choose to become mothers. They are more likely to participate in the formal labor market and earn higher incomes. A 2018 World Bank study estimates that the “ limited educational opportunities for girls, and barriers to completing 12 years of education, cost countries between US$15 trillion and $30 trillion in lost lifetime productivity and earnings. ” All these factors combined can help lift households, communities, and countries out of poverty.

The Challenge

According to  UNICEF   estimates, around the world, 122 million girls are out of school, including 34 million of primary school age, and 87 million of secondary school age. 

Globally, primary, and secondary school enrollment rates are getting closer to equal for girls and boys (92% male, 90% female). But while enrollment rates are similar – in fact, two-thirds of all countries have reached  gender parity in primary school enrollment  – completion rates for girls are lower in low-income countries where 63% of female primary school students complete primary school, compared to 67% of male primary school students.  In low-income countries, secondary school completion rates for girls also continue to lag, with only 38% of girls completing lower secondary school compared to 43% of boys. Upper secondary completion rates have similar disparities in lower income countries, the rate is 26% for young men and  21% for young women.

The gaps are starker in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV) . In FCV countries,  girls are 2.5 times  more likely to be out of school than boys, and at the secondary level, are 90% more likely to be out of secondary school than those in non-FCV contexts.  

Both girls and boys are facing a learning crisis. Learning Poverty (LP) measures the share of children who are not able to read proficiently at age 10. While girls are on average 4 percentage points less learning-poor than boys, the rates remain very high for both groups. The average of Learning Poverty in in low- and middle- income countries is 50% for females, and 56% for males. The gap is narrower in low-income countries, where Learning Poverty averages about 93% for both boys and girls.

In many countries, enrollment in tertiary education slightly favors young women, however, better learning outcomes are not translating into better work and life outcomes for women. There is a large gender gap in labor force participation rates globally. It is especially stark in regions such as South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, which have some of the  lowest female labor force participation rates  at 26% and 20% per region, respectively. These are appallingly low rates, considering what is observed in other regions like Latin America (53%) or East Asia (59%), which are still below rates for men. 

Gender bias  within schools and classrooms may also reinforce messages that affect girls’ ambitions, their own perceptions of their roles in society, and produce labor market engagement disparities and occupational segregation. When gender stereotypes are communicated through the design of school and classroom learning environments or through the behavior of faculty, staff, and peers in a child’s school, it goes on to have sustained impact on academic performance and choice of field of study, especially negatively affecting young women pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

Poverty  is one of the most important factors for determining whether a girl can access and complete her education. Studies consistently reinforce that girls who face multiple disadvantages — such as low family income, living in remote or underserved locations or who have a disability or belong to a minority ethno-linguistic group — are farthest behind in terms of access to and completion of education.

Violence  also prevents girls from accessing and completing education – often girls are forced to walk long distances to school placing them at an increased risk of violence and many experience violence while at school. Most  recent data  estimates that approximately 60 million girls are sexually assaulted on their way to or at school every year. This often has serious consequences for their mental and physical health and overall well-being while also leading to lower attendance and higher dropout rates. An estimated  246 million children experience violence in and around school every year , ending school-related gender-based violence is critical. Adolescent pregnancies can be a result of sexual violence or sexual exploitation. Girls who become pregnant often face strong stigma, and even discrimination, from their communities. The burden of stigma, compounded by unequal gender norms, can lead girls to drop out of school early and not return. 

Child marriage  is also a critical challenge. Girls who marry young are much more likely to drop out of school, complete fewer years of education than their peers who marry later. They are also more likely to have children at a young age and are exposed to higher levels of violence perpetrated by their partner.  In turn, this affects the education and health of their children, as well as their ability to earn a living. Indeed, girls with secondary schooling are up to six times more likely to marry as those children with little or no education.  According to a 2017 report , more than 41,000 girls under the age of 18 marry every day. Putting an end to this practice would increase women’s expected educational attainment, and with it, their potential earnings. According to the report’s estimates, ending child marriage could generate more than US$500 billion in benefits annually each year.

COVID-19  is having a negative impact on girls’ health and well-being – and many are at risk of not returning to school once they reopen. Available  research  shows that prevalence of violence against girls and women has increased during the pandemic – jeopardizing their health, safety and overall well-being. As school closures and quarantines were enforced during the 2014‐2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, women and girls experienced more sexual violence, coercion and exploitation. School closures during the Ebola outbreak were associated with an increase in teenage  pregnancies . Once schools re-opened, many “visibly pregnant girls” were banned from going back to school. With schools closing throughout the developing world, where stigma around teenage pregnancies prevails, we will probably see an increase in drop-out rates as teenage girls become pregnant or married. As girls stay at home because of school closures, their household work burdens might increase, resulting in girls spending more time helping out at home instead of studying. This might encourage parents, particularly those putting a lower value on girls' education, to keep their daughters at home even after schools reopen. Moreover,  research  shows that girls risk dropping out of school when caregivers are missing from the household because they typically have to (partly) replace the work done by the missing caregiver, who might be away due to COVID-19-related work, illness, or death. Therefore, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, we might see more girls than boys helping at home, lagging behind with studying, and dropping out of school.

The World Bank is committed to seeing every girl prosper in her life. Our projects support the education of hundreds of millions of girls and young women across the world. Working through interventions in education, health, social protection, water, infrastructure, and other sectors, we are making an even stronger commitment to support countries in ensuring that every girl receives the quality education she deserves.

Our 162 active projects (as of February 2024) are impacting more than  150 million girls and young women worldwide . Hundreds of millions more have been impacted over the past few decades. 

We tackle key barriers that girls and young women face when trying to obtain an education. Guided by evidence on what works for girls’ education, our projects use multi-pronged approaches across areas including:

1. Removing barriers to schooling

• Addressing financial barriers, through scholarships, stipends, grants, conditional cash transfers
• Addressing long distances and lack of safety to and from school by building schools, providing transportation methods for girls to get to school
• Addressing a lack of information about returns to girls’ education but running community awareness campaigns engaging parents, school leaders, and local community leaders
• Working with the community to address and inform on social and cultural norms and perceptions that may prevent girls’ education

2. Promoting safe and inclusive schools 

• By constructing and rehabilitating schools to create safe and inclusive learning environments, 
• Efforts at the community- and school-levels, and programs to engage the school (including teachers, girls, and boys) in reducing gender-based violence (GBV) and ensuring available mechanisms to report GBV
• Support for hygiene facilities and menstrual hygiene management for adolescent girls

3. Improving the quality of education 

• Investing in teacher professional development, eliminating gender biases in curriculum and teaching practices, and focusing on foundational learning
• Adapting teaching and learning materials , and books to introduce gender sensitive language, pictorial aspects, and messaging

4. Developing skills and empowering girls for life and labor market success 

• Promoting girls’ empowerment , skills development programs and social programs
• Prioritizing and promoting women in STEM subjects and careers in both traditional and non-traditional sectors
• Reducing barriers and providing incentives through scholarships for women to enroll in higher education and TVET programs
• Support for childcare programs for women and girls to join the labor market

For more information on our girls’ education investment and projects, please read  Count Me In: The World Bank Education Global Practice: Improving Education Outcomes for Girls and Women  (PDF) , which highlights our decades-long commitment to girls’ education, and showcases how Education GP projects are creating opportunities for girls around the world to succeed in their education and beyond.

The WBG supports girls’ education through a variety of interventions.  Our focus on girls’ education and wellbeing goes beyond school attendance and learning outcomes – we strive to ensure girls have safe, joyful, and inclusive experience with education systems that set them up for success in life and motivate them to become lifelong learners. This  approach , reflected in the current Education portfolio impacting at least 150 million girls and young women, prioritizes investments in four key areas listed below. 

1. Removing barriers to girls’ schooling

• Our projects providing stipends to improve primary and secondary school completion for girls and young women in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Sahel benefit close to half a million girls. 
• Our  Girls Empowerment and Learning for All Project in Angola  will use a variety of financial incentives to attract adolescent girls to schools, including scholarships, and new school spaces for girls. 
• The AGILE (Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment) project in Nigeria is providing conditional cash transfers to households for sending girls to school, removing cost barriers to their education. 
• The MIQRA (Mali Improving Education Quality and Results for All Project) has a school feeding and nutrition program targeted at retention and attendance for girls in schools.

2. Promoting safe and inclusive schools for girls

• In Tanzania, the Bank is supporting the training of a counselor in every school who will provide life-skills training in girls’ and boys’ clubs – which is important because closing gender gaps is not only about interventions for girls but also for boys. 
• In Nigeria, female counselors will provide life skills training to about 340,000 girls in safe spaces. Several of our other projects also support the construction of separate sanitary toilets for girls, as well as introducing GBV-reducing and reporting mechanisms in school systems. 

3. Improving the quality of education for girls (and boys)

• In Ghana, the Accountability and Learning Outcomes Project is conducting teacher training for gender-sensitive instruction, and aims to create guides for teachers to support gender sensitivity in classrooms. 
• In Honduras, the Early Childhood Education Improvement Project, will create a revised preschool curriculum that will include content on gender equity, inclusion, and violence prevention, as well as training for teachers, including training to combat GBV.
• The Girls Empowerment and Quality Education for All Project in Sao Tome & Principe is creating girls’ clubs after school, where they are also provided with life skills training, and counseling.

4. Developing skills for life and labor market success for young women

• The Nurturing Excellence in Higher Education Project in Nepal is focusing on increasing access to tertiary education for young women from low-income groups, and additional providing scholarships for the poorest applications, alongside communication and advocacy campaigns for more female enrollment in STEM subjects. 
• The ASSET (Accelerating and Strengthening Skills for Economic Transformation) project in Bangladesh is working to increase the participation of women in skills training programs, and conducting awareness and communications campaigns to address dropout.
• In Pakistan, the  Higher Education Development  project seeks to support women enrolled in STEM programs, with an aim to move them from 2-year to more comprehensive 4-year programs. 
• The  Higher Education Project  in Moldova and the Higher Education Modernization Project in Belarus will both support and finance activities to increase enrollment of women in STEM fields. The Côte d'Ivoire  Higher Education Development Support Project  provides scholarships for women in higher education, and extra tutoring support for females pursuing STEM subjects.
• Schemes to increase participation of girls in higher education. Through the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACE) project, the Bank has supported increased enrollment of females in masters and PhD programs. The number of female students in ACE centers was 343 in 2014 and was 3,400 in 2020; a tenfold increase. The Bank is also building the pipeline of female students interested in computer science and engineering programs and retain them.  

The WBG works closely with governments and other development organizations on girls’ education issues to identify and advance interventions that improve girls’ education outcomes and provide resources to support countries implementing such initiatives. Partnerships both within and outside of the World Bank are critical to the Education GP’s work on girls’ education. The Education GP works with other global practices in the Bank to improve girls’ education—for example, collaborating with the Water GP for access to sanitation and hygiene in schools, with Social Protection and Jobs GP for challenges related to labor market transition, or Energy GP to improve school safety. 

The World Bank collaborates actively with many donors and organizations. As a signatory to the G7 Charlevoix Commitment, the Bank has already committed an estimated $2.5 billion to girls’ education in FCV countries as of September 2021—exceeding its pledge of $2.0 billion from 2018 to 2023. 

The Education GP: 

• is collaborating with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office FCDO (UK) about targets and high-level engagement with G7 donors, to support aid and financial commitment for girls’ education; 
• is a member of the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Girls’ EiE Reference Group, which seeks to further research and advocacy for girls’ education in emergencies; 
• a member of the UNESCO Gender Flagship Reference Group and has provided technical contributions to the UNESCO-commissioned study (December 2020-July 2021); and 
• is working closely with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) as the implementing agency for 65 percent or $5.5 billion of the total GPE grants since inception, that also support girls' education.
• is a member of the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI), which comprises over 20 partners representing multilateral, bilateral, civil society, and non-governmental organizations.
• collaborated with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) to produce Economic Impacts of Child Marriage , a recent report detailing the effects of child marriage, which was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation , and GPE.

Publication:   Achieving Gender Equality in Education: Examining Progress and Constraints

Report:  Breaking Barriers, Improving Futures: Challenges and Solutions for Girls’ Education in Pakistan

Girls’ education in conflict is most at risk: Here’s how to reach them

Why girls’ education should remain a priority

Closing the gap: Tackling the remaining disparities in girls’ education and women’s labor market participation

Empowering adolescent girls in Africa through education

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Why girls’ education should remain a priority

Raja bentaouet kattan, laura rawlings, courtney melissa merchant.

A decade after the World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development we have seen encouraging improvement in education outcomes for girls. Primary school completion rates are almost equal between boys and girls, and there has been significant progress in secondary education enrollment rates.

Girls’ education matters, but our focus must evolve to meet new challenges.

First, girls in high poverty and settings of fragility, conflict and violence (FCV) still face challenges in attendance and enrollment. Learning remains a critical issue for both boys and girls alike.   

Second, ensuring that girls access quality education is a central part of building and protecting human capital for themselves today, for their future economic prospects and for successive generations. Human capital promotion and protection are a key outcome of the proposed World Bank Group Gender Strategy 2024-30 .  In Achieving Gender Equality in Education: Examining Progress and Constraints , an underpinning for the new gender strategy, we take a close look at the latest research and findings on gender equality outcomes in education, as well as issues, evidence on promising solutions, operational good practices, and areas for future engagement.  

We need multipronged approaches based on what works to close gaps in girls’ education

The benefits of girls’ education are clear, including across health, social and economic outcomes.    And the evidence is decisive on many areas of what works to overcome barriers that girls face—for example, tackling obstacles of distance and cost through interventions including scholarships, stipends, and cash transfers.

At the same time, there are fewer studies in many areas such as the utility of social campaigns for boosting girls’ education enrollment; how gender-sensitive curricula, textbooks, and teaching can reduce bias and further girls’ achievement; and the impacts of school-based interventions for girls, such as separate toilets, school safety, and gender-based violence (GBV) reduction mechanisms. Studies are beginning to emerge in these areas, and more are needed.

This research informs policy approaches that target multiple barriers faced by girls, providing a strong base to continue to test, learn, adapt and expand on these approaches.

Schools are social incubators, playing a pivotal role in empowering girls and shaping norms

Research shows the clear impact of social norms on gender outcomes , including schooling and education outcomes.  Importantly, we know that schools have the power to shape these norms and give both girls and boys the ability to positively transform their roles, behaviors and futures. We consider schools as “incubators” where students develop a view of their own potential and rights, and as critical to empowering all students. 

One way we can bolster this link is through empowerment programs targeting adolescent girls. Evidence from Africa and South Asia has demonstrated the impressive impact of adolescent girls’ empowerment programs, for example from the World Bank’s Adolescent Girls Initiative .  The World Bank is now supporting a “new generation” of projects in Angola, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Mozambique that build on lessons from previous efforts, including the Adolescent Girls Initiative and the Sahel Women's Empowerment and Demographics Project. These approaches target sexual and reproductive health and rights, GBV, and women’s economic participation. For example, the Sudan Basic Education Support Project includes activities to train schools and their surrounding communities on GBV reduction.

We must bridge the broken link to employment

There are clear disparities in  women and men’s labor market outcomes, and education has a pivotal role in this tackling this. We see an education-employment paradox, in which high learning outcomes are not translating to labor market outcomes for girls. On the flip side, boys often face the challenge of underperformance in schools , but have higher labor market outcomes.

As more and more girls are accessing education, we need to look at how we can help them translate education into successful outcomes.   A striking 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 globally are not in education, employment or training (NEET), compared to 1 in 10 boys.   That is a quarter of girls who are not able to engage fully in developing higher order skills or realizing the returns to their education in the workforce. In Latin America, a recent World Bank study finds the share of girls who are NEETs is significantly higher than among young men, and can be as high as 46%. They find that the challenges girls face are often different than for boys and are often strongly impacted by gender norms.

Access to reproductive health services among adolescents, encouraging girls’ agency and aspirations including for employment in higher paying occupations, and using proven approaches such as mentoring to address occupational segregation are all needed.

How can education programs contribute to address this problem? The Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET Project in Bangladesh , for example, is working with girls and their family members to increase access to education and skills training and promote the employability of the NEET youth, especially girls and women. The project also promotes equal access and opportunities for other subgroups, including persons with disability, transgender, and ethnic minorities.

Girls’ education is essential for sustainable, resilient, and inclusive development

This year, the World Bank has created a new vision for an evolving mission, one that emphasizes addressing global challenges on a livable planet .  This cannot be achieved without gender equality in education. 

Girls’ education is highly vulnerable to disruption from fragility and crises including conflict and climate change effects. Notably, girls in FCV situations are some of the most marginalized.  At the same time, educating girls strengthens countries’ resilience to shocks . Girls and women also have a pivotal role in addressing climate change, whether at the household level, in the community or in the labor market. One way to support this is through STEM investments, which empower girls to shape their societies and environments as scientists, innovators and active citizens . In Tanzania, for example, the Higher Education for Economic Transformation Project is making a strong, multi-pronged push to promote more girls and young women in STEM subjects.

Where do we go from here?

It is increasingly pressing to support girls’ abilities to thrive in an ever-changing world and to be able to tackle global challenges. These ideas and more are detailed in our policy note.  You can download it here , and share your feedback on the WBG gender strategy to help us shape the path ahead. 

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Q&A: Why investing in girls’ and women’s education is a smart move

The most recent data reveal that currently fewer girls are out of school than boys, and that more women are enrolled in higher education than men worldwide. But there is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality in education globally. 

Here is what you need to know about the latest data and why investing in girls’ and women’s education is crucial.

What are the latest trends in girls’ education?

Despite progress, a staggering 122 million girls remain out of school globally.  Girls’ disadvantage is exacerbated by several factors. One important factor is poverty. In Côte d’Ivoire, for instance, there are 72 young women in school – but only 22 poor young women – for every 100 young men.

Another factor is location. In Mozambique, for example, there are 73 young women in school for every 100 young men. But while there is gender parity in urban areas, there are 53 young women in school for every 100 young men in rural areas. 

There are also regional differences. In sub-Saharan Africa, gender parity in enrolment has not been achieved at any level of education. 

While girls have caught up and even surpassed boys in the completion of secondary education, only 94 young women complete secondary school for every 100 young men in Central and Southern Asia. Disparity also remains in sub-Saharan Africa, where despite progress only 88 young women complete secondary education for every 100 young men. 

Girls fare better than boys in reading. Globally, for every 100 proficient boys, there are 115 proficient girls in reading at the end of lower secondary education. Boys have a small advantage over girls in mathematics in primary education, but this is reversed in lower secondary education. Yet, boys tend to have a considerable advantage over girls in mathematics at the higher end of performance.

While young women are outnumbering young men at university globally, only 9% of young women enrol in tertiary education when primary and secondary education is neither compulsory nor free.

Where is progress most needed?

Nine of the 10 countries with the highest out-of-school rates for girls are in sub-Saharan Africa, the tenth country being Afghanistan. In 8 of these 10 countries, at least 50% of school-age girls are not in school; in Afghanistan, 75% of girls are not in school.  These rates are staggering and must urgently be addressed. 

What are the benefits of investing in girls’ education?

Globally, the loss in human capital due to gender inequalities is estimated to be around US$160 trillion, which is about twice the value of global GDP.

Educating girls has huge societal impact. It enhances women’s agency and their decision-making. It increases their living standards. It has benefits for the health and nutrition of their children. Education can help to end child marriage and early and unintended pregnancy. 

It also increases women’s access to decent work and sparks economic development.

There is an urgent need to transition to a green economy. Why is investing in girls’ and women’s education crucial to doing so successfully?

Investing in girls’ and women’s education is indeed a smart investment for the green transition. We know that women are more likely to start businesses focused on sustainability. Yet, girls and women are less well prepared for and represented in green jobs. Green jobs require science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills and knowledge. But gender is one of the strongest determinants of the likelihood of pursuing education and careers in STEM. 

In 30 out of 121 countries, fewer than 20% of graduates in engineering are women. In 61 out of 115 countries, fewer than 30% of computer science graduates are women. We cannot afford to lose out on the innovative ideas of women.  And we also know that where education opens leadership opportunities for girls as adults, their participation in national politics can lead countries to adopt more environment-friendly policies.

What can we do to improve girls’ education further?

Governments and partners need to invest in several critical areas to ensure that all girls’ right to complete a full cycle of basic education is met. Following the Incheon and Paris Declarations, governments shall allocate at least 4-6% of GDP and at least 15-20% of total public expenditure to education. As highlighted in the Call to Action on financing education, issued at the Transforming Education Summit, education investment needs to target the most marginalized. 

This includes investment in the collection, analysis and use of data on girls’ education and in the development of gender-transformative learning systems. 

The latter entails among others, gender-transformative teaching and learning materials and teacher training on gender-transformative pedagogy. Governments also need to invest into nutrition, sanitation and hygiene at school. The prevention of school-related gender-based violence and the provision of comprehensive sexuality education are also critical to keep girls in school. Importantly, governments need to provide 12 years of free, publicly funded, inclusive, equitable and quality education, without discrimination, including making school affordable, reducing the direct and opportunity cost of schooling through cash or in-kind transfers for poor families. 

• ‘Her Education, Our future’ fact sheet
• UNESCO’s work in  gender equality and education
• Her Atlas, UNESCO’s interactive tool on educational rights of girls and women

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• International Women’s Day
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Home / Learning / Child Education / Why Girl Child Education Is Important?- The Impact And Necessity

Why Girl Child Education Is Important?- The Impact And Necessity

Highlighting the significance of girl child education, this article delves into the critical role it plays in empowering communities and fostering social progress. We will explore the multifaceted benefits of educating girls, including improved health, economic development, and gender equality. Additionally, we will provide actionable insights and practical solutions to promote and support girl child education.

Girl child education is a critical aspect of societal advancement. It represents not just the empowerment of half the population but also a cornerstone for global development.

Educating girls lays a foundation for a more informed and equitable society. It transcends mere literacy, encompassing a range of life skills that are vital for personal and community growth.

Education for girls leads to better health outcomes, reduced poverty levels, and stronger economies. It challenges and changes long-standing gender biases, paving the way for more balanced and inclusive decision-making in all spheres of life.

The ripple effects of educating a girl child are profound, impacting not just the individual but generations to come.

This introduction aims to highlight the undeniable importance and far-reaching benefits of girl child education , a critical tool for achieving sustainable development and a more equitable world.

How Has The Role Of Education In A Girl’s Life Changed Over Time?

The role of Education in a girl’s life has undergone significant transformation over time. Historically, girls’ access to Education was limited, often confined to basic literacy and domestic skills.

Education for girls was not a priority in many cultures, rooted in gender biases and societal norms that favored male Education.

In the early 20th century, there was a gradual shift. More girls began attending school, though often in gender-segregated environments.

The curriculum was typically different from boys’, emphasizing home economics and “feminine” skills over academic or professional training.

Post World War II, the global perspective on women’s roles began to change more rapidly. The women’s liberation movement and other social changes emphasized equality and rights, including the right to Education.

This period saw a significant increase in the number of girls receiving formal Education and pursuing higher studies.

In recent decades, the focus has shifted to not just providing access but also ensuring quality education for girls. Efforts have been made to make curricula gender-neutral and inclusive, offering girls the same opportunities as boys.

Girls are now encouraged to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Today, the role of Education in a girl’s life is recognized as a cornerstone for her empowerment and a key to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Educated girls are more likely to delay marriage and childbirth, have healthier children, and contribute economically to their families and communities.

The digital age has further expanded opportunities for girls’ Education, making it more accessible and inclusive.

What Are The Prevailing Misconceptions About Girl Child Education?

Several prevailing misconceptions about girl child education still exist, impacting the global effort to provide equal educational opportunities for girls. These misconceptions include:

• Education is Less Important for Girls: A deep-rooted belief in some cultures is that educating girls is less important than educating boys. This stems from traditional views about gender roles, where a woman’s primary responsibilities are seen as domestic and child-rearing.
• Girls are Less Capable Learners: There’s a myth that girls are inherently less capable of learning or understanding complex subjects, especially in areas like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This is a baseless stereotype that has been debunked by numerous studies showing girls perform equally well, if not better, in these areas.
• Investment in Girls’ Education Doesn’t Yield High Returns: Some believe that investing in a girl’s Education doesn’t yield significant benefits, either because they will eventually prioritize family over career or because they don’t have the same earning potential as men. In reality, educating girls leads to a range of societal benefits, including economic growth and improved family health.
• Educated Girls Reject Traditional Values: There’s a fear that Education leads girls to reject traditional cultural values and roles. While Education does encourage critical thinking and independence, it doesn’t inherently lead to a rejection of cultural values but often contributes to a more informed and balanced perspective on them.
• Girls’ Education Increases the Risk of Unwanted Social Change: Some believe that educating girls leads to unwanted social change, including higher divorce rates or lower birth rates. While Education does empower women to make informed choices about their lives, these changes are generally beneficial to society as a whole.
• Distance Learning is Sufficient for Girls: With the advent of technology, some assume that remote or distance learning is sufficient for girls’ Education. While technology is a valuable tool, it cannot fully replace the social, emotional, and interactive aspects of in-person learning.

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Why Is It Crucial To Address The Topic Of Girl Child Education Today?

Addressing the topic of girl child education today is crucial for several compelling reasons

Gender Equality

Education is a fundamental right. Ensuring girls have equal access to Education is a critical step towards achieving gender equality. Educated girls are more likely to participate in decision-making processes, both in their families and communities, promoting a more balanced and inclusive society.

Economic Growth

Educating girls contributes significantly to economic development. Educated women are more likely to enter the workforce, earn higher incomes, and contribute to the economic growth of their communities and nations.

Improved Health Outcomes

Education leads to better health choices. Educated women tend to have fewer, healthier, and well-nourished children. They are more aware of healthcare needs and can better manage health issues affecting their families.

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty. Educated women are more likely to invest in their children’s Education and well-being, perpetuating a cycle of prosperity for future generations.

Social Change and Empowerment

Education empowers girls to become agents of change. It provides them with the skills and knowledge to challenge and change societal norms that limit women’s roles and opportunities.

Reduced Child Marriage and Improved Family Planning

Educated girls are more likely to marry later and make informed decisions about family planning. This leads to more stable and economically secure families.

Global Commitments and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Educating girls is key to achieving several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including gender equality, quality education, reduced inequalities, and economic growth.

Building Resilient Communities

Educated women are better equipped to respond to challenges, including economic crises and natural disasters. Their participation in community leadership roles leads to more resilient and adaptive societies.

In What Ways Do Cultural Beliefs And Practices Influence Girl Child Education?

Cultural beliefs and practices significantly influence girl child education in various ways:

• Gender Roles and Expectations: In many cultures, traditional gender roles dictate that a woman’s place is in the home, taking care of the family. This belief can lead to a lower prioritization of Education for girls, as it’s seen as less relevant to their perceived future roles as wives and mothers.
• Early Marriage: Cultural practices like early or child marriage often disrupt a girl’s Education. Once married, girls are expected to leave school to start families or manage household responsibilities, cutting short their educational journey .
• Preference for Boys’ Education: In some cultures, there’s a distinct preference for educating boys over girls, stemming from the belief that boys will become the breadwinners and carry on the family name. This can result in allocating limited family resources toward the Education of boys while girls are left behind.
• Safety and Modesty Concerns: Cultural norms around safety and modesty can also hinder girls’ access to Education. Concerns about girls traveling to and from school or attending mixed-gender schools can lead families to keep their daughters at home.
• Curriculum and School Environment: Cultural beliefs might influence the content and delivery of Education. This can include gender-biased curricula that reinforce stereotypes or a school environment that is not conducive to girls’ participation, such as a lack of adequate sanitation facilities.
• Economic Factors: In cultures where girls are seen as economic burdens, families might prefer to invest in sons who are viewed as future providers. This economic perspective can reduce the perceived value of investing in girls’ Education.
• Religious Beliefs: In some contexts, religious interpretations play a role in shaping attitudes towards girls’ Education. While many religions advocate for Education, some interpretations might restrict girls’ access to certain types of Education or promote segregation.
• Community Expectations: Peer pressure and community expectations can also play a role. In societies where educating girls is not the norm, parents may be less inclined to educate their daughters, fearing social ostracism or criticism.

How Does Educating Girls Impact The Economy Of A Country?

Educating girls significantly impacts the economy of a country in several key ways:

• Increased Workforce Participation: Education equips girls with the skills and knowledge needed to enter and compete in the workforce. An increase in educated women expands the labor pool, contributing to the country’s productivity and economic growth.
• Higher Earnings and Economic Growth: Educated women are more likely to earn higher wages and gain employment in skilled occupations. Higher earnings not only improve the standard of living for their families but also stimulate economic growth through increased spending and investment.
• Reduced Poverty Rates: Education is a critical tool in breaking the cycle of poverty. Educated women are more likely to find work, earn more, and contribute economically to their households and communities, thereby reducing overall poverty rates.
• Boost to Innovation and Productivity: Diverse educational backgrounds bring different perspectives to problem-solving and innovation. Including more educated women in the workforce can lead to more creative solutions and improvements in productivity.
• Enhanced Family Well-Being and Investment in Future Generations: Educated women tend to invest more in their families. They are more likely to spend their income on their children’s Education and health, leading to better-educated and healthier future generations, which are key factors in long-term economic stability and growth.
• Greater Economic Resilience: Diverse and inclusive economies are generally more resilient to economic shocks. By empowering women through education, a country can build a more flexible and robust economy capable of withstanding global economic fluctuations.
• Demographic Benefits: Educated women often have fewer children and start families later, contributing to lower birth rates and reduced strain on resources. This demographic transition can result in a more manageable population growth, allowing for better economic planning and resource allocation.
• Promotion of Gender Equality in the Workplace: Educated women challenge gender stereotypes in the labor market, promoting gender equality. This can lead to more equitable and inclusive workplaces, which have been shown to be more successful and innovative.

What Are The Social Benefits Of Educating Girls For The Community And Society At Large?

Educating girls brings numerous social benefits to the community and society at large:

• Improved Family Health: Educated women are more knowledgeable about health and nutrition, leading to better health care decisions for themselves and their families. This results in healthier families and reduced strain on public health systems.
• Reduction in Child and Maternal Mortality: Education enhances women’s understanding of healthcare and family planning, contributing to lower rates of child and maternal mortality. Educated mothers are more likely to seek prenatal care, have safer childbirths, and ensure their children are immunized.
• Enhanced Child Education : Educated mothers place a higher value on Education and are more likely to ensure their children, both boys and girls, receive an education. This creates a positive cycle of Education and empowerment in communities.
• Promoting Gender Equality: Girl child education is a critical step towards gender equality. Educated girls grow into women who can advocate for their rights and contribute to breaking down gender stereotypes and barriers.
• Economic Stability and Growth: As educated women enter the workforce, they contribute to the community’s economic stability and growth. They invest their earnings in their families and communities, leading to overall economic development.
• Reduced Rates of Child Marriage: Education provides girls with alternatives to early marriage, enabling them to pursue personal development and career goals. This delays the age of marriage and reduces the incidence of child marriage in communities.
• Social Cohesion and Community Engagement: Educated women are more likely to participate in community activities and decision-making processes. Their involvement leads to more inclusive and cohesive communities.
• Environmental Stewardship: Education often includes awareness of environmental issues. Educated women can play a crucial role in advocating for sustainable practices and contributing to environmental conservation efforts.
• Reduced Poverty and Improved Standard of Living: By breaking the cycle of poverty, Education leads to an overall improved standard of living in communities. This results in less dependence on social welfare and a more robust, self-sufficient community.
• Political Participation and Leadership: Education empowers women to engage in political processes and leadership roles, bringing diverse perspectives to policy-making and governance, which benefits society as a whole.

Educating girls yields substantial social benefits for communities and society at large:

• Improved Health Outcomes: Educated women tend to make informed health choices, resulting in better health outcomes for themselves and their families. This includes lower rates of child and maternal mortality and better nutritional practices.
• Decrease in Child and Forced Marriages: Education helps delay the age of marriage for girls. Educated girls are more likely to make informed decisions about their lives, including marriage, thereby reducing the incidence of child and forced marriages.
• Enhanced Child Education and Development: Educated mothers are more likely to educate their children, creating a positive cycle of Education and opportunity. They also tend to be more engaged in their children’s educational and developmental activities.
• Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction: Education equips girls with skills for better job opportunities, leading to economic empowerment. Educated women contribute to their families and communities, reducing poverty levels.
• Gender Equality and Empowerment: Education is key to empowering girls and women, leading to greater gender equality. Educated women are more likely to participate in decision-making at home and in their communities, challenging gender norms and promoting equality.
• Community Development and Resilience: Educated women contribute to the social and economic development of their communities. They bring diverse perspectives to community issues, fostering more resilient and inclusive societies.
• Political Participation and Leadership: Education empowers women to engage more actively in political processes, enhancing their representation and leadership in governance, which leads to more inclusive policies.
• Cultural and Social Change: Educated women can challenge and change harmful cultural practices and norms. They often advocate for social justice, contributing to a more progressive and tolerant society.
• Environmental Stewardship: Educated women are more likely to be aware of and address environmental challenges, contributing to sustainable community practices.
• Reduction in Crime and Social Vices: Education contributes to lower crime rates and reduced engagement in social vices. Educated communities tend to be more peaceful and law-abiding.

How Does Education Contribute To The Health And Overall Well-Being Of Girls?

Education significantly contributes to the health and overall well-being of girls in various ways:

• Improved Health Knowledge: Education provides girls with essential knowledge about health, hygiene, nutrition, and physical fitness. This knowledge empowers them to make informed decisions regarding their health and the health of their families.
• Awareness of Health Rights and Services: Educated girls are more aware of their health rights and the availability of health services, including reproductive and sexual health services. They are better equipped to seek medical help and advocate for their health needs.
• Delayed Marriage and Childbearing: Education often leads to delayed marriage and childbearing, reducing risks associated with early pregnancies and childbirth, which can have long-term health implications.
• Mental Health Benefits: Education can boost self-esteem , confidence, and resilience, contributing to better mental health. The social interactions and problem-solving experiences in educational settings also support emotional and psychological development.
• Reduced Risk of Health Issues: Educated women are more likely to understand and avoid risk factors for diseases, leading to lower rates of health issues like obesity, heart disease, and sexually transmitted infections.
• Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Education encourages healthier lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Increased Health Literacy: Education enhances health literacy, enabling girls to understand health information and services, which is crucial for effective health management and prevention of diseases.
• Economic Benefits Leading to Better Health: Education often leads to better job opportunities and higher income, which can provide access to better healthcare, nutrition, and living conditions, directly benefiting girls’ health.
• Empowerment to Challenge Harmful Practices: Educated girls are more likely to challenge harmful cultural practices that affect health, such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and dietary restrictions.
• Informed Family Planning: Education empowers girls and women to make informed choices about family planning, leading to healthier spacing and timing of pregnancies, which benefits both maternal and child health.

In What Ways Does Education Empower Girls And Promote Independence?

Education empowers girls and promotes independence in several significant ways:

• Knowledge and Skills Acquisition: Education equips girls with knowledge and skills that are essential for navigating life. This includes literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills , which are fundamental for personal and professional success.
• Economic Independence: Education leads to better job opportunities and the potential for higher income. This economic independence is crucial for girls to have control over their lives and make independent decisions.
• Informed Decision-Making: Educated girls are better equipped to make informed decisions about their health, relationships, and futures. They can independently assess information and make choices that are best for them.
• Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem: Education fosters a sense of self-worth and confidence. Knowledge and achievements in Education can significantly boost a girl’s confidence in her abilities.
• Social and Political Empowerment: Education gives girls the tools to engage in social and political spheres. It empowers them to advocate for their rights, participate in community decisions, and take on leadership roles.
• Breaking Gender Stereotypes: Education challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes. It shows that girls can achieve just as much as boys, promoting gender equality.
• Delayed Marriage and Childbirth: Educated girls are more likely to delay marriage and childbirth, allowing them to focus on personal development and career goals.
• Awareness of Rights: Education raises awareness of legal and human rights. Girls learn about their rights and the protections they are entitled to, enabling them to stand against injustices like discrimination and abuse.
• Networking and Support Systems: Educational environments allow girls to build networks and support systems that can aid them personally and professionally throughout their lives.
• Lifelong Learning and Adaptability: Education instills a mindset of lifelong learning. This adaptability is key to independence, helping girls to navigate and thrive in a constantly changing world.

How Does Education Improve The Quality Of Life For Girls And Their Future Families?

Education profoundly improves the quality of life for girls and their future families in several ways:

Better Employment Opportunities

Education opens up higher-paying and more fulfilling job opportunities. Financial stability derived from such employment can significantly enhance the quality of life for girls and their future families.

Informed Health Choices

Educated girls have better knowledge about health, nutrition, and hygiene. This leads to healthier lifestyle choices for themselves and their families, resulting in overall improved family health.

Reduced Child and Maternal Mortality

Education is linked to lower rates of child and maternal mortality. Educated women are more likely to access prenatal care, ensure safe childbirth, and provide better childcare.

Enhanced Child Development

Educated mothers are more likely to understand the importance of early childhood education and developmental activities, contributing positively to their children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction

TEducation contributes to economic growth and can lift families out of poverty. Educated women are more likely to be economically productive and invest their earnings back into their families.

Social and Environmental Awareness

Education fosters awareness of social and environmental issues. Educated women can make informed decisions that benefit both their families and the broader community.

Delayed Marriage and Family Planning

Education leads to delayed marriage and childbirth, allowing women to make informed choices about family planning. This results in smaller, well-spaced families, improving the quality of life for each member.

Empowerment and Self-Confidence

Education empowers girls, fostering a sense of independence and self-confidence. This empowerment influences their role in the family, encouraging a more equitable and respectful family dynamic.

Intergenerational Benefits

The benefits of educating girls extend to future generations. Educated women are more likely to prioritize the Education and well-being of their children, perpetuating a cycle of opportunity and improved quality of life.

Community Engagement and Leadership

Educated women are more likely to participate in community activities and take on leadership roles. Their involvement can lead to community improvements that benefit not just their own families but also the wider society.

Can Education Be A Tool To Break The Cycle Of Poverty And Discrimination For Girls?

Yes, Education can indeed be a powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and discrimination for girls. Here’s how:

• Economic Empowerment: Education opens doors to better employment opportunities and higher income potential. Educated girls can secure better jobs, contributing to their economic independence and breaking the cycle of poverty.
• Improved Health Outcomes: Educated women have better knowledge about health care, nutrition, and family planning. This leads to healthier families and reduced healthcare costs, contributing to economic stability.
• Delayed Marriage and Childbearing: Education encourages girls to delay marriage and childbearing, allowing them to focus on their personal and professional development. This delay often leads to smaller, healthier families and breaks the cycle of early marriage and poverty.
• Increased Awareness and Empowerment: Education empowers girls with knowledge about their rights and the skills to advocate for themselves. This awareness is crucial in combating discrimination and asserting their place in society.
• Generation Impact: Educated women are more likely to educate their children, creating a positive cycle that benefits future generations. This intergenerational Education is key in sustaining poverty reduction and combating discrimination.
• Social and Cultural Change: Education challenges traditional norms and stereotypes that discriminate against girls. Educated girls and women can become agents of change, influencing societal attitudes and practices.
• Community and Economic Development: Educated women contribute significantly to their communities and economies. Participating in the workforce and engaging in community decision-making help drive economic and social development.
• Political Representation and Policy Change: Education equips girls to engage in political processes, potentially leading to roles in leadership and policy-making. This representation is essential for enacting policies that combat poverty and discrimination.
• Reduced Dependency: Education reduces dependency on social welfare systems by empowering girls to be self-sufficient. This economic independence is crucial in breaking poverty cycles.
• Networking and Resources: Education provides girls with access to a wider network of peers and mentors, as well as resources that can aid in personal and professional development.

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What Are Some Global Initiatives And Success Stories In Girl Child Education?

There are several global initiatives and success stories in girl child education, demonstrating the progress made in this vital area:

• Malala Fund: Founded by Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, this fund focuses on advocating for girls’ Education worldwide. Malala’s own story of bravery and her fight for Education in Pakistan has inspired many and brought global attention to the cause.
• United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI): This initiative works globally to promote girls’ Education and gender equality. UNGEI partners with various organizations to support education policies, planning, and programming, making significant strides in improving access to Education for girls.
• Plan International’s “Because I am a Girl” Campaign: This campaign aims to end gender inequality by providing Education to girls. It has successfully raised awareness and implemented various programs that have significantly improved girls’ access to Education in several countries.
• Global Partnership for Education (GPE): GPE supports developing countries to ensure that every child receives a quality basic education, focusing on girls and the most vulnerable. They have made considerable progress in increasing school enrollment rates for girls.
• Room to Read: This organization focuses on literacy and gender equality in Education. They have successfully implemented programs in several countries, contributing to improved literacy rates and increased school completion rates for girls.
• Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED): CAMFED is an international non-profit organization tackling poverty and inequality by supporting girls to go to school and succeed. Their work has positively impacted millions of girls in Africa.
• Educate Girls: Focusing on India, this organization works towards enrolling out-of-school girls and improving foundational skills in literacy and numeracy. Their community-based approach has been effective in reaching thousands of girls.

Success Stories

• Rwanda: Post-genocide, Rwanda implemented policies to promote gender equality in Education. Today, the country boasts one of the highest rates of female education enrollment in Africa.
• Bangladesh: Government initiatives like stipend programs for girls have significantly increased girls’ enrollment in schools. Bangladesh has achieved gender parity in primary and secondary Education.
• Afghanistan: Despite facing significant challenges, efforts by various NGOs and the international community have helped increase the number of girls attending school in Afghanistan.

How Is Technology Shaping The Future Of Education For Girls?

Technology is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of Education for girls, offering new possibilities and addressing traditional barriers. Here’s how:

• Increased Access: Technology, especially the internet and mobile devices, has made Education more accessible. Girls who previously couldn’t attend school due to distance, cultural norms, or safety concerns can now access educational resources online.
• Flexible Learning Environments: E-learning platforms and digital classrooms provide flexible learning environments. This flexibility is crucial for girls who might need to balance educational pursuits with household responsibilities or work.
• Personalized Learning: Technology enables personalized Education, catering to individual learning styles and paces. This personalization can be particularly beneficial for girls who might have missed school or need extra support in certain subjects.
• Interactive and Engaging Content: Digital tools and resources, such as educational apps, games, and virtual laboratories, make learning more interactive and engaging, enhancing girls’ interest and retention in STEM subjects.
• Safe Learning Spaces: In regions where girls’ safety is a concern, technology provides a secure way to continue Education without physically attending school.
• Global Connectivity and Exposure: Technology connects girls with peers, mentors, and educators worldwide, broadening their perspectives and exposing them to a wide range of cultures, ideas, and educational practices.
• Skill Development for the Modern World: Tech education equips girls with digital literacy and skills crucial for the modern workforce, such as coding, data analysis, and digital communication.
• Overcoming Gender Biases: Online Education can help overcome biases present in traditional classroom settings . Digital platforms often offer a more neutral environment where girls can freely express themselves and participate.
• Support for Disabled Girls: Technology offers assistive tools and resources for girls with disabilities, making Education more inclusive and accessible.
• Data-Driven Insights for Improvement: Technology enables the collection of educational data, which can be analyzed to improve teaching methods, curricula, and policies, ensuring they meet girls’ specific needs.

What Are The Current Challenges And Barriers To Girl Child Education?

Despite significant progress, there are still various challenges and barriers to girl child education:

• Socio-Cultural Norms: In many societies, traditional gender roles and biases persist, viewing Education for girls as less important or unnecessary. These norms can lead to prioritizing boys’ Education over girls’.
• Poverty: Economic constraints are a significant barrier. Families with limited resources often prioritize Education for boys. Girls are more likely to be kept at home for domestic work or because families can’t afford school fees and related costs.
• Early Marriage and Pregnancy: Cultural practices like early marriage and teen pregnancy limit girls’ opportunities for Education, as they often drop out of school to fulfill marital and maternal roles.
• Safety and Security Concerns: In some regions, girls face risks like harassment, violence, or long and unsafe commutes to school. These safety concerns can deter parents from sending their daughters to school.
• Lack of Sanitation Facilities: Inadequate sanitation facilities, especially during menstruation, are a significant barrier. Many girls miss school or drop out entirely due to the lack of private and hygienic facilities.
• Inadequate School Infrastructure: Poor infrastructure, lack of basic amenities, and overcrowded classrooms can make learning environments unsuitable, particularly impacting girls.
• Gender Biases in Curriculum and Teaching: Curricula and teaching methods that reinforce gender stereotypes can discourage girls from fully participating or pursuing certain subjects, particularly in STEM fields.
• Disabilities and Special Needs: Girls with disabilities face additional challenges, including a lack of accessible school facilities and materials and societal stigma.
• Armed Conflict and Emergencies: In conflict zones or areas affected by natural disasters, girls’ Education is often severely disrupted. They face increased risks of exploitation, violence, and a breakdown of the educational infrastructure.
• Technological Divide: In the digital age, the lack of access to technology and the internet can be a barrier, especially as educational resources increasingly move online.

How Can Policy And Governance Make A Difference In Girl Child Education?

Policy and governance play a crucial role in advancing girl child education. Here’s how they can make a difference:

• Legislation Supporting Education Rights: Enacting laws that mandate Education for all children, regardless of gender, can significantly impact girls’ Education. Governments can also implement policies that specifically target barriers affecting girls, such as laws against child marriage.
• Allocation of Adequate Resources: Governments can allocate sufficient budgetary resources to ensure that schools are accessible, safe, and equipped with the necessary facilities, including sanitation, to support girls’ Education.
• School Infrastructure Development: Policies aimed at improving and expanding educational infrastructure, especially in underserved areas, can increase access for girls. This includes building schools closer to communities to reduce travel distance and ensure safety.
• Curriculum Reform: Implementing curriculum changes that challenge gender stereotypes and include gender equality can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for girls.
• Teacher Training and Sensitization: Training teachers to be sensitive to the needs and challenges of girl students and to avoid gender biases in their teaching can foster a more encouraging learning environment.
• Scholarships and Financial Incentives: Offering scholarships, stipends, or other financial incentives to families can encourage them to keep their daughters in school, especially in regions where poverty is a major barrier.
• Community Engagement and Awareness Programs: Policies that include community engagement and awareness campaigns can change societal attitudes towards girls’ Education and mobilize community support.
• Support for Pregnant Girls and Young Mothers: Providing support for pregnant schoolgirls and young mothers, such as maternity leave from school and re-entry policies, can help them continue their Education.
• Child Protection Policies: Enforcing strict child protection policies within schools to prevent abuse and harassment can make schools safer for girls, encouraging attendance and retention.
• Data Collection and Monitoring: Implementing systems for monitoring and collecting data on girls’ Education can help assess progress, identify areas for improvement, and develop targeted interventions.

What Role Do Families And Communities Play In Supporting Girl Child Education?

Families and communities play a vital role in supporting girl child education:

• Valuing Education: When families and communities value Education , this attitude significantly influences girls’ school attendance and academic performance. Encouraging an education-positive environment is crucial.
• Financial Support: Families providing financial support for school-related expenses like uniforms, books, and fees can make a significant difference in whether a girl attends school.
• Reducing Household Burdens: Families can ensure that household responsibilities are shared or minimized so that girls have enough time and energy to focus on their Education.
• Emotional and Moral Support: Emotional encouragement from family members can boost a girl’s confidence and motivation to pursue Education. Moral support is crucial in helping girls overcome challenges and persist with their studies.
• Safety and Security: Ensuring a girl’s safety to and from school and within the community is a key concern. Families and communities can work together to create safe environments for girls to attend school.
• Challenging Gender Stereotypes: Families and communities that challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes pave the way for girls to pursue education and career opportunities that were traditionally reserved for boys.
• Community-Based Education Programs: Communities can organize or support education programs, especially in areas where access to formal schooling is limited. This can include after-school programs, tutoring, and mentorship initiatives.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Families and community leaders advocating for girls’ Education can influence broader social norms and policies. This includes campaigning for better school facilities, more female teachers, and gender-sensitive curricula.
• Support for Teenage Mothers and Married Girls: Providing support for girls who are mothers or married to continue their Education is crucial. This can include flexible schooling options or childcare support.
• Promoting Role Models: Highlighting and celebrating female role models from the community who have pursued Education can inspire and motivate girls.

Final Thoughts

RELATED: The Montessori Legacy: How Maria Montessori Transformed The Landscape Of Education

Continued advocacy and investment in girl child education are imperative for fostering equitable, prosperous societies.

Education empowers girls with skills, confidence, and opportunities, leading to economic growth, improved health outcomes, and societal advancement. Neglecting this area risks perpetuating cycles of poverty, gender inequality, and diminished societal progress.

The long-term effects include stunted economic development, the unfulfilled potential of half the population, and the loss of diverse perspectives in solving global challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is girl child education important.

Girl child education is crucial for several reasons. It empowers girls with knowledge and skills, leading to personal empowerment, economic growth, and improved health outcomes.

Educated girls contribute to the reduction of poverty, promote gender equality, and ensure better prospects for future generations.

Education enables girls to make informed decisions about their lives, thereby enhancing the overall well-being of communities and societies.

What Are The Main Barriers To Girl Child Education?

The main barriers include socio-cultural norms that undervalue girls’ Education, poverty that limits access to schooling, early marriage and pregnancy, safety concerns, inadequate school infrastructure, and lack of sanitary facilities.

Gender biases in curriculum and teaching, as well as challenges faced by girls with disabilities, also play a significant role.

How Can Communities Support Girl Child Education?

Communities can support girl child education by promoting the value of educating girls, ensuring their safety, and providing financial and moral support.

Community-based education programs, advocacy for better schooling facilities, and gender-sensitive curricula are also vital.

Additionally, challenging gender stereotypes and celebrating female role models can inspire and encourage girls to pursue their Education.

What Impact Does Educating Girls Have On A Country’s Economy?

Educating girls has a significant positive impact on a country’s economy. It leads to a larger, more skilled workforce, increases women’s participation in the labor market, boosts earnings, and contributes to economic growth.

Educated women are more likely to invest in their families and communities, leading to a reduction in poverty and economic stability.

What Are The Long-Term Benefits Of Girl Child Education?

The long-term benefits include sustained economic growth, reduced poverty and health disparities, and enhanced societal well-being.

Educated women are more likely to have healthier families, contribute to the economy, and participate in decision-making processes at all levels.

Furthermore, the benefits transcend generations, as educated women are more likely to ensure their children are educated, creating a positive cycle of empowerment and development.

https://centralasiainstitute.org/top-10-reasons-to-support-girls-education

https://www.saggfoundation.org/girls-education-overview.html

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-girl-child-education-meeme-sarah

https://60millionsdefilles.org/en/5-top-reasons-girls-education-can-make-world-better-place

https://www.forbes.com/sites/unicefusa/2022/09/05/10-reasons-to-educate-girls

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• Girl Child Education – Key to Freeing Girls from Social Barriers
• On: November 9, 2023
• By: Smile Foundation

‘One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.’ 

These are the words of Malala Yousafzai, a brave young girl who stood up against the Taliban in Pakistan, fighting for her right to education, and went on to become the youngest Nobel laureate in the world. Her passion for education and dedication to the cause has made Malala an international symbol in the fight for the education of girl child. Her story is an inspiration to many but more importantly, it is a message about the value of education and the fact that even in today’s world access to education is a privilege, not available to everyone. Girl child education in India is important for an equitable nation.

Social Status of Girl Child in India

Despite constitutional provisions guaranteeing equal rights to men and women, gender disparity is still a sad reality in Indian society. We live in a country where ironically, people pray and seek blessings from female goddesses for the birth of a male child in their family.

Gender discrimination in India is the result of a deeply rooted patriarchy that undervalues the girl child. According to a UNICEF  report , though globally, girls have higher survival rates at birth and equal likelihood to participate in preschool, India is the only large country where the mortality rate and school dropout rate of girls are more than boys. 

Discrimination against girl children manifests itself in many ugly forms including limited access to information and services in areas like education and health, early and forced marriage, female foeticide and infanticide and other crimes against women, unequal opportunities in employment and decision-making, etc. Gender equality is crucial for a peaceful and progressive society and thus calls for urgent actions to dissolve these social barriers that limit the rise of girls and women.

Education– The Game Changer

Education is a highly potent instrument of change. Through quality education, an individual not only acquires knowledge and skills but is also able to broaden his/her perspective and improve his/her overall personality. Education helps in character building and transforms attitudes and behaviors. 

Further still, it sets in motion the spiral of effects leading to the development of both the individual and the nation. Education is the key to unlocking the greatness of a nation by removing inequalities and presenting everyone with a chance to achieve their fullest potential. The right to education is thus granted as a fundamental right in our constitution and should be equally accessible to both boys and girls. The facts however state otherwise! 

Girl Child Education in India

An analysis of the historical background indicates that due to the social structure, cultural norms, and traditional practices, girl child education in India has been hugely neglected over time. Post- Independence the scenario has changed for the better with girls’ education being central to policy making. 

Data from a  research paper published in the International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences states that the literacy rate of girls has gone up from 8.86 % in 1951 to 54.16% in 2001 and increased to 65.5% as per the 2011 census report. 

While this is an increase in the literacy rate of girls in the past, when compared to the boys’ literacy rate which stood at 82.1% (Census Report 2011) it highlights the huge gap that still exists in girl child education in India. The Global Gender Gap Report  (2021) ranked India at 114 out of 156 countries based on educational attainment. 

Barriers to Girl Child Education

It has been well established that education is an important milestone in women’s empowerment and it needs to be imparted from early stages of life because childhood and adolescence are the formative years of an individual. 

However, many problems stand in the way of girl child education in India. Some of the major ones are listed as follows:

Financial constraints:  Poverty is one of the biggest hurdles in educating a girl child. Even though education at least at the schooling level has been made free, it might have some expenses involved like buying stationery or bus fare which some families find burdensome. When it comes to spending on education, many parents choose to spend on their sons rather than daughters.

Patriarchal mindset:  There is a considerable section of our population who still do not see any good in educating the girl child. This comes from a deep-set psyche that women are meant only for the household chores and taking care of family and education would pollute their minds.

Gender stereotyping:  Traditionally women have been confined to the four walls of a house. Gender roles have been so strongly held for generations that even women who are the victims of such stereotyping find it hard to break away from it. Since marriage and looking after a family are considered to be the ultimate goals of a girl’s life, less attention is paid to educating a girl child.

Domestic Responsibilities:  Girls enrolled in schools, mainly in rural areas are forced to drop out to engage in household chores or take care of younger siblings. Thus they are not able to complete their education.

Lack of infrastructure: Shortage of teachers, commuting hurdles, and lack of essential infrastructure often lead to girl students dropping out of school at primary and middle school levels.  Data  from UDISE shows that by March 2021, 42,000 government schools did not have drinking water facilities and 15,000 schools had no toilets.

Safety issues: Girls who have to cover long distances between house and school often have safety concerns. This discourages them and their parents from continuing schooling.

Solutions for Improvement in Girl Child Education

The government of India has implemented several schemes and programmes to improve the situation of girl child education in India. The  ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’  campaign launched in 2015 is an attempt to change the attitude towards girl child by creating awareness about the declining sex ratio and the importance of girl-child education in the country. 

Other steps in this direction could be:

• Improving existing educational infrastructure and quality of education
• Appointment of qualified teachers, preferably more female teachers in government schools
• Making schools more accessible by increasing their number or ensuring safer ways of commuting  
• Creating awareness about the importance of girl child education 
• Encouraging Public-private partnerships in creating and maintaining educational infrastructure
• Counseling sessions for parents and better teacher-parent association to improve attitudes toward girl-child
• Discouraging early marriage of girls and teenage pregnancy by creating awareness about the health risks 
• Better  WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) facilities in schools to prevent the dropout of girl students

Donate to Girl Child Education 

Girl-child education, women empowerment, and the development of the nation are closely related. Besides the Government, many social and non-profit organizations like Smile Foundation  are dedicatedly working to improve the scenario of girl-child education in India through various programmes and initiatives.

Community support and participation can provide great impetus to these efforts and go a long way in empowering the girls of our country. A small contribution from you can make a big difference in the life of a girl-child. Please sponsor or  donate  for the education of girl-child because in an educated girl lies the promise of an empowered nation.

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  Women and girls can lead us to a fairer future...let us amplify girls’ voices, and recommit to working together to build a world where every girl can lead and thrive." UN Secretary-General António Guterres  

Girls’ vision for the future

The 2024 International Day of the Girl theme is ‘Girls’ vision for the future’.

This year’s theme conveys both the need for urgent action and persistent hope, driven by the power of girls’ voices and vision for the future.

Today’s generation of girls is disproportionately affected by global crises of climate, conflict, poverty and pushback on hard won gains for human rights and gender equality. Too many girls are still denied their rights, restricting their choices and limiting their futures.

Yet, recent analysis shows that girls are not only courageous in the face of crisis, but hopeful for the future. Every day, they are taking action to realize a vision of a world in which all girls are protected, respected and empowered. But girls cannot realize this vision alone. They need allies who listen to and respond to their needs. 

With the right support, resources and opportunities, the potential of the world’s more than 1.1 billion girls is limitless. And when girls lead, the impact is immediate and wide reaching: families, communities and economies are all stronger, our future brighter.

It is time to listen to girls, to invest in proven solutions that will accelerate progress towards a future in which every girl can fulfil her potential.

Five game-changing solutions with and for adolescent girls

Did you know that investing in girls is not only the right thing to do for them, but it also brings positive impacts to their families, communities, and societies as a whole? Based on the priorities of young people worldwide for promoting adolescent girls' rights, there are five key solutions rooted in partnerships that can transform girls' lives and secure their futures.

In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls. The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out girls’ rights.

On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted  Resolution 66/170  to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.

Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind.

Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.

Vanessa Nakate on how the climate crisis impacts girls

Vanessa Nakate, 25, is a Ugandan climate change activist and founder of the Africa-based Rise Up Movement. Nakate speaks out on the climate crisis and its intersection with gender and race, especially in how it disproportionately affects women and girls in Africa.

Did you know?

• Nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary school today.
• Around 90 per cent of adolescent girls and young women do not use the internet in low-income countries, while their male peers are twice as likely to be online.
• Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age.
• Adolescent girls continue to account for 3 in 4 new HIV infections among adolescents.
• Nearly 1 in 4 married/partnered adolescent girls aged 15-19 have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.
• Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million girls were at risk of child marriage in the next decade. And now over the next ten years, up to 10 million more girls worldwide will be at risk of marrying as children because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Documents

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• Convention on The Rights of Child
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Beijing+5 Political Declaration and Outcome
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Publications

• Adolescent Girls Programme Strategy, 2022 - 2025
• Global Annual Results Report 2022: Gender equality
• Bridging the Gender Digital Divide
• Legislating and enforcing the minimum age of marriage: A comparative study of experiences and lessons learned in ending the legalization of child marriage
• Gender-Transformative Accelerator
• UNICEF: International Day of the Girl Child
• UN Women: International Day of the Girl Child
• UNESCO: International Day of the Girl Child
• UN Secretary-General's Campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women
• The Spotlight Initiative
• World Bank: Girls' Education 
• United Nations Girls' Education Initiative
• International Labour Organization: Gender and child labour in agriculture
• UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage
• UN Global Issues: Gender equality
• SDG-5: Gender equality

Related Observances

• International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science
• International Women's Day
• International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
• World Day Against Child Labour
• International Youth Day
• International Literacy Day
• World Children’s Day
• UN Decade for Women

Global Issues: Gender Equality

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth.

Skills4Girls : Girl-centered solutions for unlocking the potential of adolescent girls

There are more than 600 million adolescent girls in the world today — equipped with the right resources and opportunities, they will be the largest cohort of female leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and change-makers the world has ever seen. Learn more .

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

Home > Topics > Girls’ Education

Girls’ Education

Submissions from 2024 2024.

Long-term impacts of a cash plus program on marriage, fertility, and education after six years in pastoralist Kenya: A cluster randomized trial , Karen Austrian, John A. Maluccio, Erica Soler-Hampejsek, Eva Ireri Muluve, Abdullahi Aden, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Benta Abuya, and Beth Kangwana

Adolescent Girls Initiative–Kenya: Testing for Scale—Recommendations Report , Karen Austrian, Eva Ireri Muluve, Ruth Nanjekho, John A. Maluccio, and Erica Soler-Hampejsek

Leaving No One Behind: Fulfilling the Promise of Education for Pregnant and Parenting Girls in sub-Saharan Africa , Maimouna Bah and George Odwe

Understanding the education profiles of eight Latin American countries , GIRL Center

Understanding the education profiles of seven East and Southern African countries , GIRL Center

Power, practice, and potential: Social protection and adolescent girls , GIRL Center, Cash Transfer and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Research Collaborative, and UNICEF

Power, Practice and Potential: Social Protection and Adolescent Girls—Event on the sidelines of CSW68 , GIRL Center, Cash Transfer and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Research Collaborative, and UNICEF

Power, Practice and Potential: Social Protection and Adolescent Girls—Slide deck , GIRL Center, Cash Transfer and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Research Collaborative, and UNICEF

Girls First Fund: External evaluation , Brian Medina Carranza, Dela Nai, Neelanjana Pandey, Grace Saul, Angel del Valle, and Fatima Zahra

Do adolescent girls’ education and friendships have independent effects on early pregnancy? Results of a mediation analysis from a longitudinal cohort study in Nairobi, Kenya , Christina Misunas, Erica Soler-Hampejsek, Beth Kangwana, and Nicole Haberland

Le soutien à la scolarisation des filles et leur maintien à l’école , Population Council and SWEDD

Support for girls’ education and keeping them in school , Population Council and SWEDD

In spite of patriarchy: Pathways from school to wage work and careers among adolescent girls in Bihar , Orlanda Ruthven, Anupam Sharma, Bishwajit Mukherjee, Shamayita Das, Aparajita Gogoi, Madhu Joshi, and Sohini Paul

Submissions from 2023 2023

Advancing the Agenda in Girls’ Education Research , Benta Abuya, David Evans, Selim Gulesci, Nicole Haberland, Susannah Hares, Rabea Malik, Alessia Mortara, and Pauline Rose

Adolescent girls’ agency and their labour force participation: Experimental evidence from rural Bangladesh , Sajeda Amin and Momoe Makino

Evaluation of Biruh Tesfa (Bright Future) for All: A program for out-of-school girls, migrants, and domestic workers in low-income Ethiopian cities , Annabel Erulkar, Eyasu Hailu, Henock Markos, Getnet Demissie, Tsegahun Tessema, and Hana Hailu

Recap Report: Girls Deliver Pre-Conference on Adolescent Girls at the Women Deliver 2023 Conference , GIRL Center

The multidimensional, intersecting impacts of COVID-19 on young people's lives: Evidence from cross-sectional surveys in Mexico, India, and Kenya , Ann Gottert, Isabel Vieitez Martínez, René Nevárez, Karen Austrian, Eva Ireri Muluve, Sangram Kishor Patel, Niranjan Saggurti, Ashish Bajracharya, Jessica DeMulder, Erica Soler-Hampejsek, and Thoai Ngo

Learning to Adapt: The vital role of education and gender equity in climate justice , Nicole Haberland and Jessie Pinchoff

Fulfilling the Radical Power of Education , Nicole Haberland and Corinne White

Leave no one behind: Integrated sexual and reproductive, mental health and psychosocial programming for not in employment, education or training (NEET) adolescents and youth in sub-Saharan Africa , Manasi Kumar, Joan Mutahi, and Beth Kangwana

Determinants of school dropouts among adolescents: Evidence from a longitudinal study in India , Pradeep Kumar, Sangram Kishor Patel, Solomon Debbarma, and Niranjan Saggurti

Effects of a single cash transfer on school re-enrollment during COVID-19 among vulnerable adolescent girls in Kenya: Randomized controlled trial , John A. Maluccio, Erica Soler-Hampejsek, Beth Kangwana, Eva Ireri Muluve, Faith Mbushi, and Karen Austrian

Which intervention synergies maximize AGYW's HIV outcomes? A classification and regression tree analysis of layered HIV prevention programming , Sanyukta Mathur, Bidhubhusan Mahapatra, Raman Mishra, Craig Heck, and Michael Mbizvo

Comprehensive sexuality education linked to sexual and reproductive health services reduces early and unintended pregnancies among in-school adolescent girls in Zambia , Michael Mbizvo, Kondwani Kasonda, Nelly-Claire Muntalima, Joseph G. Rosen, Sophie Inambwae, Edith S. Namukonda, Ronald Mungoni, Natasha Okpara, Chifundo Phiri, Nachela Chelwa, and Chabu Kangale

Community-based empowerment program to delay marriage: Results from the More Than Brides Alliance intervention in India, Malawi, Mali and Niger , Andrea J. Melnikas, Grace Saul, Michelle Chau, Neelanjana Pandey, Mouhamadou Gueye, James Mkandawire, Aissa Diarra, and Sajeda Amin

Results from the Basmeh & Zeitooneh (B&Z) intervention to empower adolescent girls and young women at risk of child marriage and poor reproductive health among the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon , Rima Mourtada

Unlocking Potential: Bridging the Gap in Early Childhood Education For a Brighter Future , Arindam Nandi

The gendered effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent literacy and schooling outcomes in India , Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, Meredith Kozak, and Thoai Ngo

Country level data for the "The Radical Power of Education" report , Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, and Thoai Ngo

The impact of primary schooling expansion on adult educational attainment, literacy, and health: Evidence from India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan , Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, and Thoai Ngo

The Radical Power of Education , Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, and Thoai Ngo

The Radical Power of Education—Brief , Arindam Nandi, Nicole Haberland, and Thoai Ngo

A glass ceiling at the playhouse? Gender gaps in public and private preschool enrollment in India , Arindam Nandi, Soham Sahoo, Nicole Haberland, and Thoai Ngo

The Radical Potential of Education , Thoai Ngo, Nicole Haberland, and Corinne White

Adolescent education, health and wellbeing status in four counties in Kenya: Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic , Population Council Kenya

AGI-K REPORT Documentary 2023 , Population Council Kenya

The One Who Uses a Pencil Will Go Far , Population Council Kenya

El impacto del cambio climático en la salud: experiencias de la juventud de Bangladesh, Guatemala y Nigeria , Population Council and Women Deliver

El impacto del cambio climático en los medios de subsistencia y en las oportunidades educativas de la juventud , Population Council and Women Deliver

En quoi le changement climatique contribue-t-il à façonner les moyens de subsistance et les possibilités d'éducation des jeunes? , Population Council and Women Deliver

How climate change is shaping young people’s livelihoods and educational opportunities , Population Council and Women Deliver

Les effets du changement climatique sur la santé : expériences vécues par des jeunes du Bangladesh, du Guatemala et du Nigeria , Population Council and Women Deliver

The health effects of climate change: Experiences of young people in Bangladesh, Guatemala, and Nigeria , Population Council and Women Deliver

Assessing the health, social, educational and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: A rapid review of the literature , Astha Ramaiya, Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli, Rosalijn Both, Ann Gottert, Silvia Guglielmi, Sam Beckwith, Mengmeng Li, and Robert W. Blum

Submissions from 2022 2022

Keeping girls in schools to reduce child marriage in rural Bangladesh: Endline assessment , Sigma Ainul, Forhana Rahman Noor, Md. Irfan Hossain, Iqbal Ehsan, Mehnaz Manzur, Ubaidur Rob, and Sajeda Amin

Menstruation, myopia, and marginalization: Advancing menstrual policies to “keep girls in school” at the risk of exacerbating inequalities , Nay Alhelou, Purvaja S. Kavattur, Mary M. Olson, Lillian Rountree, and Inga T. Winkler

Invisible threads: Addressing the root causes of migration from Guatemala by investing in women and girls , Ingrid Arias, Angel del Valle, Michelle Dubón, Aracely Martínez Rodas, Kathleen Mogelgaard, L. Tatiana Paz Lemus, and J. Joseph Speidel

Webinar—From Data to Action: Informing Menstrual Health Management Programs , Karen Austrian, Nicole Haberland, Beth Kangwana, and Megan White Mukuria

Impacts of multisectoral cash plus programs on marriage and fertility after 4 years in pastoralist Kenya: A randomized trial , Karen Austrian, Erica Soler-Hampejsek, Beth Kangwana, Nicole Maddox, Maryama Diaw, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Benta Abuya, Eva Ireri Muluve, Faith Mbushi, Hassan Mohammed, Abdullahi Aden, and John A. Maluccio

From Data to Action: Informing Menstrual Health Management Programs , Emily EunYoung Cho, Karen Austrian, and Nicole Haberland

GIRL Center Roadmap to 2030 , GIRL Center

Gender-related barriers to schooling: What do we know about the effects of sexuality and life skills education? , Nicole Haberland

Gendered effects of COVID-19 school closures: Bangladesh case study , Eashita Haque, Natalie Wyss, Emily EunYoung Cho, and Karen Austrian

The effects of negative economic shocks at birth on adolescents’ cognitive outcomes and educational attainment in Malawi , Fabrice Kämpfen, Fatima Zahra, Hans Peter Kohler, and Rachel Kidman

Gendered effects of COVID-19 school closures: Pakistan case study , Iram Kamran, Tahira Parveen, Rehan M. Niazi, Maqsood Sadiq, Fatima Azeem, Emily EunYoung Cho, and Karen Austrian

Impacts of multisectoral cash plus programs after four years in an urban informal settlement: Adolescent Girls Initiative–Kenya (AGI–K) randomized trial , Joy Koech, John A. Maluccio, Beth Kangwana, Karen Austrian, Erica Soler-Hampejsek, Nicole Maddox, Rachel J. Sapire, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Benta Abuya, Eva Ireri Muluve, and Faith Mbushi

Assessing layered HIV prevention programming: Optimizing outcomes for adolescent girls and young women , Sanyukta Mathur, Raman Mishra, Bidhubhusan Mahapatra, Craig Heck, and Jerry Okoth Okal

Gendered effects of COVID-19 school closures: Kenya case study , Faith Mbushi, Natalie Wyss, Emily EunYoung Cho, Karen Austrian, Eva Ireri Muluve, Laura Muthoni, and Beth Kangwana

The development of adolescent agency and implications for reproductive choice among girls in Zambia , Katharine McCarthy, Katarzyna Wyka, Diana Romero, Karen Austrian, and Heidi E. Jones

The good, the bad and the unintended: Education, child marriage and early childbearing , Thoai Ngo

Getting girls back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: Lessons from the 4Ts initiative , George Odwe and Chi-Chi Undie

Gendered effects of COVID-19 school closures: India case study , Neelanjana Pandey, Emily EunYoung Cho, Shilpi Rampal, and Karen Austrian

What works to improve outcomes for Kenya’s adolescent girls? , Population Council

Promises to Keep: Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescents in Kenya—Photo Exhibition , Presidential Policy and Strategy Unit (Kenya) and Population Council

Policies and interventions to remove gender‐related barriers to girls' school participation and learning in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review of the evidence , Stephanie Psaki, Nicole Haberland, Barbara Mensch, Lauren Woyczynski, and Erica Chuang

Girls on the Map: Mapping for Program Planning and Social Change , Eva Roca

Learnings from past interventions in the digital era: Evidence-based considerations for adolescents’ programming using information and communication technologies , Grace Saul and Waimar Tun

Comparative analysis of contraceptive use in Punjab and Manipur: Exploring beyond women’s education and empowerment , Anjali Sharma, Abhishek Kumar, S.K. Mohanty, and Arupendra Mozumdar

Assessment of economic opportunities for young Rohingyas in Bangladesh , Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Md. Irfan Hossain, Abdullah Al Mahmud Shohag, Eashita Haque, Iqbal Ehsan, Joseph Falcone, and Ubaidur Rob

Association between school dropouts, early marriages, childbearing, and mental health in early adulthood of women: Evidence from a cohort study in Bihar, India , Ravita Yadav, Preeti Dhillon, Archana Kujur, and Sangram Kishor Patel

Causal mechanisms linking education with fertility, HIV, and child mortality: A systematic review , Fatima Zahra, Nicole Haberland, and Stephanie Psaki

Submissions from 2021 2021

Learning loss among adolescent girls during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Bangladesh , Sajeda Amin, Md. Irfan Hossain, and Sigma Ainul

Effects of sanitary pad distribution and reproductive health education on upper primary school attendance and reproductive health knowledge and attitudes in Kenya: A cluster randomized controlled trial , Karen Austrian, Beth Kangwana, Eunice N. Muthengi, and Erica Soler-Hampejsek

From Data to Action: Partnering with Governments on Evidence to Support Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic , Karen Austrian, Beth Kangwana, Julie Mwabe, Guillermo Santiago, and Isabel Vieitez Martínez

Impacts of two-year multisectoral cash plus programs on young adolescent girls' education, health and economic outcomes: Adolescent Girls Initiative–Kenya (AGI-K) randomized trial , Karen Austrian, Erica Soler-Hampejsek, Beth Kangwana, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Benta Abuya, and John A. Maluccio

Adolescent girls and COVID-19: Mapping the evidence on interventions , Sarah Blake, Miriam Temin, Tara Abularrage, and Nihal Said

Building Assets Toolkit: Developing Positive Benchmarks for Adolescent Girls—Asset Cards [Arabic] , Judith Bruce, Sarah Engebretsen, and Kimberly Glazer

Building Assets Toolkit: Developing Positive Benchmarks for Adolescent Girls—Instruction Guide [Arabic] , Judith Bruce, Sarah Engebretsen, and Kimberly Glazer

Intentional Design: Reaching the Most Excluded Girls in the Poorest Communities—A Guide for Practitioners and Advocates , Judith Bruce and Sophie Soares

Meeting the Moment: New Data on Learning Loss and What We Can Do About It , Emily EunYoung Cho, Karen Austrian, and Nicole Haberland

Meeting the moment: The gender and education community's response to COVID-19 , Evidence for Gender & Education Resource (EGER)

What the COVID-19 pandemic is showing us about the global learning crisis , Nicole Haberland and Timothy Abuya

Adolescent girls’ and young women’s economic empowerment programs: Emerging insights from a review of reviews , Nicole Haberland, Thomas de Hoop, Sapna Desai, Sarah Engebretsen, and Thoai Ngo

Early effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on children in rural Bangladesh , Momoe Makino, Abu S. Shonchoy, and Zaki Wahhaj

More Than Brides Alliance: Endline evaluation report , Andrea J. Melnikas, Grace Saul, Michelle Chau, Neelanjana Pandey, James Mkandawire, Mouhamadou Gueye, Aissa Diarra, and Sajeda Amin

More than Brides Alliance (MTBA) : Rapport d’évaluation finale , Andrea J. Melnikas, Grace Saul, Michelle Chau, Neelanjana Pandey, James Mkandawire, Mouhamadou Gueye, Aissa Diarra, and Sajeda Amin

Effects of an e-reader intervention on literacy, numeracy and non-verbal reasoning among adolescent girls in Zambia: Evidence from a randomised controlled trial , Barbara Mensch, Nicole Haberland, Erica Soler-Hampejsek, Jean Digitale, Natalie Jackson Hachonda, Nachela Chelwa, Pamela Nyirenda, Erica Chuang, Lisa Polen, Stephanie Psaki, Nkomba Kayeyi, and Michael Mbizvo

Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes and service uptake barriers among Zambian in-school adolescents: A mixed methods study , Edith S. Namukonda, Joseph G. Rosen, Melody N. Simataa, Mwelwa Chibuye, Michael Mbizvo, and Chabu Kangale

Getting girls back to school in Kenya: The 4Ts ('Trace, Track, Talk and reTurn') Initiative implementation report , George Odwe, Chi-Chi Undie, Ann Gachoya, Truphena Kirongo, Fredrick Kiiru, and Jane Njogu

What shapes gender attitudes among adolescent girls and boys? Evidence from the UDAYA Longitudinal Study in India , Sangram Kishor Patel, K.G. Santhya, and Nicole Haberland

Action for adolescent girls and COVID-19: Implications for safe space programming in the Sahel , Population Council

Endline Results Brief: What works to improve outcomes for Kenya's adolescent girls? , Population Council

Leçons sur l'alphabetisation des adolescentes: reflexions pour les espaces sûrs du SWEDD , Population Council

Le Guide des normes minimales pour des espaces sûrs : la conception, la mise en oeuvre, et le suivi, l’évaluation et l’apprentissage , Population Council

Lessons on literacy training for adolescent girls: Considerations for SWEDD safe spaces , Population Council

More Than Brides Alliance—Marriage: No child’s play, Endline evaluation brief , Population Council

Prise de mesures pour les adolescentes en periode de la COVID-19: implications pour la programmation des espaces sûrs au Sahel , Population Council

The Adolescent Girls Initiative-Kenya—Executive Summary: Two-year follow up results , Population Council

Translating evidence into impact: Advancing global girls’ education , Population Council

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NGOs for Girl Child Education: A Hope for Many

Education is a fundamental right, yet millions of girls around the world are still denied access to it. Many face obstacles such as poverty, cultural norms, and limited resources that prevent them from receiving even a basic education. This challenge is particularly pronounced in developing countries, where education for girls remains a distant dream for many. The role of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) has become increasingly vital in bridging this gap and providing hope for a brighter future.

When girls are educated, the positive impacts ripple across entire communities. Educated girls are more likely to uplift their families, contribute to economic development, and advocate for social change. By empowering girls with education, NGOs are not just transforming individual lives—they are reshaping societies for the better. This journey toward equality and opportunity continues, fueled by the commitment of NGOs around the world.

The Need for Girl Child Education

Current statistics on girl child education worldwide.

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia , and parts of the Middle East have the highest number of out-of-school girls. In these regions, girls face numerous challenges that prevent them from completing their education. As a result, the gender gap in literacy and employment widens, reinforcing a cycle of poverty. Without access to education, these girls face limited opportunities, leaving them vulnerable to social and economic marginalization.

Barriers Girls Face in Accessing Education

Several factors contribute to the education gap for girls worldwide. These barriers are often rooted in poverty, cultural norms , and inadequate resources :

The Long-Term Benefits of Educating Girls

Educating girls yields benefits that extend beyond the individual. The positive effects of girl child education are profound and lasting for families, communities , and nations .

Role of NGOs in Promoting Girl Child Education

Overview of ngo missions and focus areas, strategies ngos use to promote girl child education, financial aid and scholarships.

One of the most effective ways NGOs support girls’ education is through financial aid and scholarships . Many families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, or textbooks. NGOs step in by offering scholarships to cover these costs, ensuring that financial constraints do not keep girls out of school.

Financial support often includes:

Infrastructure Development (Schools, Resources, etc.)

NGOs also focus on creating girl-friendly environments by:

This infrastructure development is crucial in encouraging girls to stay in school, particularly as they reach adolescence.

Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns

Advocacy campaigns focus on:

Case Studies of Successful NGO Interventions

Several NGOs have made a significant impact on girl child education, creating successful models that others can follow.

Key Challenges Faced by NGOs

Limited funding and resources.

One of the greatest challenges NGOs face is securing sufficient funding . Many organizations rely on donations and grants , which can be inconsistent. Without stable funding, NGOs struggle to sustain their programs, especially in remote areas where the cost of running schools or providing scholarships can be high.

Navigating Cultural and Societal Opposition

Overcoming logistical hurdles in rural and underserved areas.

Many NGOs work in remote or conflict-affected regions , where reaching students and maintaining educational services is difficult. These areas may lack roads, transport, or basic infrastructure. Additionally, poor communication networks and political instability can disrupt operations. NGOs must find creative solutions to overcome these logistical challenges, such as setting up mobile classrooms or using digital learning platforms .

Collaborating with Governments and Local Authorities

NGOs often need to collaborate with governments and local authorities to implement their programs effectively. However, bureaucratic hurdles , conflicting policies, and limited government support can make this process difficult. NGOs must navigate the complexities of government systems to align their missions with national education policies and secure support for long-term initiatives.

Government and NGO Collaborations

Importance of partnerships between governments and ngos.

Government and NGO collaborations also allow for more efficient use of resources . Governments often have the reach and authority to implement large-scale programs, but they may lack the grassroots connections that NGOs possess. By working together, they create a balanced approach that ensures both top-down and bottom-up solutions are effectively integrated.

Examples of Successful Collaboration Models

Several models demonstrate how government-NGO partnerships can be successful. In countries like India and Bangladesh , NGOs have partnered with local governments to provide education in underserved communities. For instance, the Pratham NGO in India works closely with government schools to improve learning outcomes for children, especially girls. By aligning their resources and strategies, Pratham and the Indian government have achieved significant progress in improving literacy rates.

Government Policies Supporting NGO Initiatives

Governments play a crucial role in supporting NGO initiatives by creating policies that encourage collaboration and provide legal frameworks for their activities. Policies that reduce bureaucratic barriers , offer tax incentives , and streamline the process of registering NGOs can help foster an environment where NGOs can thrive.

For example, in Kenya , government policies that promote public-private partnerships in education have allowed NGOs to contribute more effectively. The Kenyan government supports NGOs by ensuring that their programs align with national education goals, such as universal primary education and gender equality . These policies create a supportive environment for NGOs to make a lasting impact on girl child education.

Joint Programs for Promoting Girl Child Education

Another example is found in Ethiopia , where the government collaborates with the Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) , an NGO-led initiative, to provide education to marginalized girls. The program combines financial support with community engagement , ensuring that girls receive the resources they need while also gaining the acceptance and encouragement of their communities.

Innovative NGO Approaches

Use of technology in providing education to girls.

NGOs are increasingly using technology to bring education to girls in remote and underserved regions. Digital platforms, mobile learning , and e-learning programs have become valuable tools for NGOs to provide education where traditional schools may not be available. For instance, organizations like Room to Read use mobile apps and digital libraries to offer learning resources to girls who cannot attend school physically.

Community-Based Initiatives and Their Impact

NGOs understand that lasting change must come from within the community. Community-based initiatives involve engaging local leaders, parents, and teachers to build support for girl child education. These initiatives are effective because they address the root causes of educational disparities and create locally-driven solutions .

For example, the Tostan NGO in West Africa empowers communities to promote education by training local women as advocates for girls’ education. These women then engage with their communities to change attitudes toward girls’ roles and encourage parents to send their daughters to school. By working with communities, NGOs can create a sustainable cultural shift that supports education for all.

Holistic Education Models (Including Health, Nutrition, and Safety)

Many NGOs provide not only educational resources but also healthcare , nutritional support , and safe environments for girls. For instance, the CARE NGO offers programs that provide girls with meals at school, ensuring they are well-nourished and able to focus on their studies. They also provide sanitary products and create safe spaces where girls can continue their education without fear of harassment or violence.

Empowering Local Female Leaders to Champion Education

NGOs are also focused on empowering local female leaders to become champions for girl child education. These leaders act as role models in their communities, demonstrating the value of education and advocating for the rights of girls. By training and supporting women in leadership roles, NGOs ensure that the message of girl child education is carried forward by those who have firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by girls.

NGOs and the Impact on Families and Communities

How ngos are transforming not just girls, but entire communities.

NGOs that focus on girl child education are transforming not just individual girls, but entire communities. When girls are educated, the benefits ripple outwards, affecting families, neighbors, and future generations. Educated girls are more likely to share what they learn with others, improving literacy and skills in their communities. These girls often become the foundation for social and economic change.

Families benefit from the economic contributions of educated girls. Studies have shown that educated women earn higher wages, which helps lift their families out of poverty. In turn, they are more likely to invest in their own children’s education, creating a cycle of growth and opportunity for future generations.

The Ripple Effect of Girl Education on Poverty Reduction and Social Change

By investing in girl child education, NGOs help break the cycle of poverty that traps families and communities. Educated women contribute to economic growth , raise health standards , and lead movements that challenge discriminatory practices.

Stories of Empowered Girls Who Have Broken the Cycle of Illiteracy

There are countless stories of girls who, through the support of NGOs, have broken the cycle of illiteracy and poverty. For instance, in Rwanda , a girl named Marie was able to continue her education through the support of Room to Read , an NGO focused on literacy. Despite growing up in a rural community where girls’ education was not a priority, Marie completed her secondary education and now works as a teacher, inspiring other girls to pursue their education.

International NGO Efforts

Role of global organizations like unicef, malala fund, and others.

Global organizations like UNICEF , the Malala Fund , and Plan International play a vital role in promoting girl child education on a larger scale. These organizations work across borders to advocate for policy changes, provide funding for local NGOs, and create global awareness about the importance of girl child education.

For example, UNICEF works with governments and communities to provide education to girls in emergency situations , such as conflict zones and refugee camps. The Malala Fund focuses on ensuring that all girls have access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education. These global efforts are essential for addressing the widespread barriers that girls face in accessing education.

Cross-Border Collaborations to Standardize Girl Child Education Efforts

Success stories of international programs in developing countries.

International programs have achieved significant success in developing countries, particularly in regions where girls’ education was once nearly impossible. In Afghanistan , for example, the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) , supported by international NGOs, has helped thousands of girls return to school after the fall of the Taliban. Through community-based education, AIL has transformed the lives of countless girls who now have access to education and a brighter future.

Measuring the Success of NGOs

Metrics used to assess the impact of ngo initiatives.

NGOs use a variety of metrics to assess the success of their initiatives. These include enrollment rates , retention rates , and literacy levels among girls. In addition, NGOs track the graduation rates of girls they support, as well as their participation in higher education and the workforce. These metrics help NGOs determine which programs are most effective and where improvements can be made.

Long-Term Educational Outcomes for Girls Supported by NGOs

Challenges in maintaining sustained support and impact.

Despite the success of many NGO programs, maintaining sustained support can be challenging. Funding remains a constant issue, as many NGOs rely on donations and grants that can fluctuate. Additionally, NGOs must continually adapt to changing political landscapes, particularly in conflict zones or areas with restrictive governments. These challenges make it difficult to ensure that all girls receive the education they need, but NGOs remain committed to their mission.

The Future of Girl Child Education Through NGOs

The evolving role of ngos in post-pandemic education recovery.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on education worldwide, particularly for girls. NGOs are now playing a crucial role in helping girls return to school and recover lost learning time. By providing digital resources , setting up temporary learning spaces , and advocating for policies that prioritize girls’ education, NGOs are helping to rebuild education systems in a post-pandemic world.

Prospects for Achieving Universal Girl Child Education by 2030 (SDG Goals)

Potential for scaling successful models.

As NGOs continue to refine and innovate their approaches to girl child education, there is significant potential for scaling successful models. Programs that have worked in specific regions, such as community-based education or mobile learning platforms, can be replicated in other areas facing similar challenges. The key to scaling these models will be securing funding , building local partnerships , and ensuring that programs are adapted to meet the unique needs of each community.

NGO takes Girl-Child Education awareness to the streets of Abuja

Why is girl child education important.

Girl child education is essential for promoting gender equality and social development. When girls are educated, they are more likely to earn higher incomes, participate in decision-making, and improve health outcomes for themselves and their families. Educating girls also helps break the cycle of poverty, as it leads to more opportunities and access to resources for future generations. In short, educating girls benefits entire communities and promotes long-term economic and social progress.

How do NGOs help in girl child education?

What challenges do ngos face in promoting girl child education.

One of the biggest challenges NGOs face is securing consistent funding for their programs. Additionally, they often encounter resistance from communities where traditional norms discourage girls’ education. In rural and remote areas, logistical challenges, such as lack of transportation and limited access to schools, also pose significant barriers. NGOs must continuously adapt their strategies to overcome these challenges, making their work both complex and vital in promoting girl child education.

How can individuals support NGOs working on girl child education?

Individuals can support NGOs by donating to organizations that focus on girl child education or by volunteering their time and expertise. Raising awareness about the importance of educating girls and advocating for policies that support education equality is another way to help. Small contributions, whether financial or in-kind, can make a significant difference in expanding educational opportunities for girls. Supporting these efforts can have a lasting impact on communities worldwide.

The journey toward universal education for girls is ongoing, and the role of NGOs remains crucial. As they continue to tackle challenges such as limited funding and societal opposition, their impact grows stronger. With the support of individuals, communities, and governments, NGOs are creating lasting change, offering hope and opportunity to countless girls who would otherwise be left behind.

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• CHAPTER 1 Introduction
• CHAPTER 2 Types of education
• CHAPTER 3 Importance of education
• CHAPTER 4 Early Childhood Education
• CHAPTER 5 Education system in India
• CHAPTER 6 Girl Child Education in India
• CHAPTER 7 Role of the civil society in the education sector
• CHAPTER 8 About Oxfam India
• CHAPTER 9 Role of Oxfam India in girl child education
• CHAPTER 10 Why donate to Oxfam India

Importance of Girl Child Education

Empowering girls through education.

Everyone wishes to see this world become a better place and strives to do their bit to change the world. But often we find it difficult to find a cause we want to support and the organization we would like to donate to.

Here we will explore the issue of quality and affordable education, which can help you understand why it is one of the most pressing issues and how you can sponsor child education in India. It will also help you understand.

Oxfam India’s work in education and how you can support Oxfam India to educate a child.

What You Will Know About Girl Child Education in This Resource

To help you read on all specific topics, we've put together an interactive table of contents. Click each link to be jumped to different sections. (Or, you can also scroll down and start from the beginning.)

• Definition of Education
• Types of Education
• Importance of Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Education System in India
• Girl Child Education in India
• Role of the Civil Society in the Education Sector
• About Oxfam India
• Role of Oxfam India in Girl Child Education
• Donate to Oxfam India

What is education? Is there a difference between education and schooling? In this chapter we will learn what is the meaning of education and the concept of education.

What is education?

Education definition.

The term ‘Education’ originated from the Latin word ‘Educare’, which means ‘to bring up’ or ‘to nourish’. Another Latin word ‘Educatum’ gave birth to the English term ‘Education’. ‘Educatum’ means ‘the art of teaching’ or training.

Oxford dictionary defines education as, “a process of teaching, training, and learning, especially in schools or colleges, to improve knowledge and develop skills.” It is the action or process of being educated.

Concept of education

Most of us, when we think of education, we imagine a formal school, with students learning subjects like Mathematics, English Literature, Social Studies, Physics, Chemistry, or Biology. We imagine a school where students play sports in their free time and are regularly assessed through exams. But is education only confined to a school or university building? Can a child, or even an adult learn outside of school and improve their knowledge and skills?

Education is the process of acquisition of knowledge and experiences, and development of skills and attitudes of an individual, which help them lead a fruitful life and contribute to the development of the society. The main purpose of education is the all-round development of individuals. Education aims to not only focus on skill development, but also on personality development to help individuals become socially responsible citizens of a country.

What is value education?

Value education aims to develop certain attitudes in individuals so they are able to face different situations in life. It is often wrongly assumed that value education teaches values. Value education does not teach values but develops the ability to find one’s own values. Individuals are encouraged to develop critical thinking so they can deal with conflicts, understand their actions and their consequences, develop healthy relationships, and become dependable members of the society.  

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/education

Education goes beyond the four walls of a classroom. A child continues to learn throughout their life, even during adulthood, through different experiences. Different types of education, gives different types of learnings.

How many types of education are there

There are three main types of education. In this chapter, we will learn the different types of education, their examples, characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

What are the three types of education

The types of education are: Formal Education, Informal Education, and Non-formal Education.

1. What is Formal Education

Formal Education refers to the education imparted to students in an established educational institute premises by trained teachers. The teachers must have a certain level of training in the art of education and knowledge of relevant subjects.

Students are taught basic academic skills based on a certain syllabus. Regular assessments of learning outcomes are conducted through examinations. There is a set of established rules which both teachers and students follow in order to complete formal education.

Formal education begins at the elementary/primary level, continues through high school and college or university. Children often attend nursery or kindergarten before beginning their formal education.

What is primary education

Formal education begins with primary education, also called elementary education. Primary education begins in kindergarten and lasts till the sixth grade. Depending on the specific education system, primary education may even begin from class 1 till class 4 – class 7. Primary education helps children develop the ability to learn and understand the rules of formal education.

What are the examples of Formal Education

• Classroom instructions or training
• Grading and certification in school, colleges, and university
• Set subjects and syllabus

What are the characteristics of Formal Education

• Structured hierarchy
• Strict rules and discipline
• Regular fee
• Grading system
• Formal teacher-student relationship

What are the advantages of Formal Education

• Structured and organised
• Trained professionals as teachers
• Regular assessments to enable students to reach higher levels
• Recognised certification
• Better access to employment

What are the disadvantages of Formal Education

• Rigid and lacks flexibility for students to pursue their own interest
• Too much importance to grades puts extreme pressure on those with average scores
• Fails to recognize non-academic talents in students
• Set syllabus limits the scope of learning
• High expenses

2. What is Informal Education

Unlike Formal Education, Informal Education is not imparted in school, college or university. It is not deliberate, does not follow a set syllabus and timetable, and there are no regular assessments. There is no structured teacher-student relationship.

Informal Education is imparted by parents to their children, one person to another. Children learning how to ride a bicycle from their parents, one individual teaching another how to bake are examples of informal education.

Informal Education is also conducted through reading books, or online material. It is also the education obtained in one’s surroundings, in their daily lives, like in a marketplace, or by simply living in a community. Individuals who join some community groups and learning occurs during their activities, or take up some project of their own and learn themselves, are also considered to be acquiring informal education.

What are the examples of Informal Education

• Spontaneous learning – a person learns how to use an automatic ticket vending machine
• Parents teaching their children certain skills
• Individuals taking up a sport activity on their own
• Learning a psychological fact by reading a website article

What are the characteristics of Informal Education

• It is spontaneous
• Happens outside the formal classroom
• Life-long process
• No structured syllabus
• No grading system for what one learns

What are the advantages of Informal Education

• More flexible as individual have the advantage to choose what they wish to learn
• Individuals have the opportunity to learn the skills not taught in formal education
• Utilizes a variety of means – TV, internet, conversations, magazines
• Learners are more motivated as they have flexibility
• Less costly
• Flexible time

What are the disadvantages of Informal Education

• Lack of discipline or rules may lead to inconsistency
• Information acquired through internet or conversations may not be reliable
• No set timelines or schedule
• Difficult to recognize

3. What is Non-formal Education

Non-formal Education is organised education outside the formal school/university system. It is often referred to as adult education, adult literacy education, or community education. Non-formal education is conducted by community groups, government schemes, or an institute. It can also be conducted as home education or distance learning.

Non-formal education may not have a set syllabus or curriculum. It focuses on the development of job skills, develop reading and writing skills in out of school children or illiterate adults. Non-formal education system may also be used to bring out-of-school children at par with those in formal education system.

This system does not have a specific target group and does not necessarily conduct examinations. Children, youth, and adults can be a part of this system.

What are the examples of Non-formal Education

• Community based adult education programmes
• Community based sports programmes for children
• Fitness programmes by private institutes
• Computer and language courses in a community
• Online courses

What are the characteristics of Non-formal Education

• Has a flexible curriculum
• There is no age or time limit
• One can earn while learning
• Examinations may not be necessarily conducted
• May not require certification
• Involves vocational learning

What are the advantages of Non-formal Education

• Flexibility of age and time
• Freedom to pursue one’s interest and choose a programme
• No need of regular exams or grades
• Helps in learning useful job skills

What are the disadvantages of Non-formal Education

• Lack of certificates may leave a skill unrecognized
• Students may be irregular due to the lack of set regulations
• Untrained teachers
• Basic reading and writing skills may still be required
• Lack of formal structure and rules may lead to students discontinuing

In this chapter, we will learn about the importance of education, early childhood education and the impact of lack of education.

Why education is important

Now that we know what are the different types of education, let us explore the importance of education in life.

Education is a human right. Education is important for not only a holistic development of an individual, but the society as well. 59 million children and 65 million adolescents are out of school, across the world, and more than 120 million children do not complete primary education.

Lack of education hampers an individual from reaching their full potential. Out of school children miss out the opportunity to develop their skills and to join the work force later in their adult life. Unemployment further creates more stress among people, especially the youth, leading to social unrest and crimes, adversely impacting the development of a country. Hence, education is the key to an individual’s and a country’s development. Learn more about illiteracy in India.

All the different types of education enable an individual develop cognitive skills, emotional intelligence, and skills required to be employed.

Education helps an individual develop the ability to think critically, understand the people around them and their surroundings, make informed decisions, and understand the consequences of their actions on themselves and others. Education is necessary for an individual to live a fruitful life and become a responsible member of the society.

Education must begin early in an individual’s life, during early childhood. This is the time when important brain development occurs. In the next chapter we will explore early childhood education more in depth. Let us first understand the importance of education in an individual’s life and the importance of education for a country.

Why is education important for an individual

As already discussed, education helps an individual develop cognitive skills and emotional intelligence. An uneducated person, who doesn’t understand themselves, who cannot understand how to interact with people around them, is isolated from their society.

Humans are social beings and need to form healthy relationships with their fellow humans and live with them in harmony, in order to survive. Lack of education, hampers a person’s ability to understand other people’s emotions and cannot understand their own emotions to be able to form a relationship. Additionally, education helps individuals combat diseases, change regressive social norms, and promote peace.

Further, an individual who does not attend school, or take any form of formal education, cannot develop the skills required to enter the workforce, and is eventually pushed into poverty.

Why is education important for a country

Education is the key to economic development. It reduces poverty, boosts economic growth, by ensuring people enter the work force and increase their income.

Education helps promote stability in times of conflict and crisis. Children are forced out of school in a conflict situation, leading to high drop-out rates. The chance of education lays a path to normalcy for children. Girl child education, especially, benefits a country. Educated women can make informed decisions, reduce gender violence, have fewer children, and join the work force. It is the first stepping stones towards ending gender based discrimination and inequality. This village in Uttar Pradesh has an inspiring story of changing regressive social norms through education.

In this chapter, we will learn what is early childhood and the importance of early childhood education.

What is an early childhood

Early childhood is the period from birth to eight years of age. These are the most critical years in a child’s life. During this time the brain is at its peak development stage and determine a child’s development over the course of their lives. 

This is period is extremely crucial because children develop cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills. They are highly influenced by their environment and require utmost care by parents and community members to ensure holistic development. Hence, the emphasis on early childhood education.

What is early childhood education?

Early childhood education is not only preparation for primary school, it also aims to develop basic life skills in children to lay a foundation of lifelong learning and success. It consists of varied activities to aid in the cognitive and social development of children before they start preschool. 

It consists of both formal and informal education. Parents are considered to be the first ones educating a child, as a child develops their first relationship with parents. This relationship can have a significant impact on child development and early childhood education. This stage of early childhood care and education typically starts between 0 to 2 years of age. 

After this stage, formal education starts. Formal education for early childhood may vary from state to state, a child’s age and their learning abilities. Early childhood education programmes may vary for each age group and run at different levels – nursery, playgroup, preschool, and kindergarten.

Why is early childhood education important?

A child’s brain is at its peak developmental stage from 0 to 8 years of age. Their experiences lay the foundation of a child’s emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Following are some of the benefits of early childhood education:

Social skills

Humans are social beings. They need to develop healthy relationships in order to live a fruitful life. Early childhood education ensures children learn how to socialize with other children of their age, with people outside of their immediate family and develop the skills to successfully socialize with people later on in their lives.

Sharing with others is the core of any relationship and peaceful society. Early childhood education enables a child to learn how to share their things so they can develop strong friendships with other children. 

Team working skill is one of the most important assets of an individual’s holistic development. The skill is useful throughout formal education, in personal relationships, and in the workforce. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that children develop skills early in their childhood. 

A child cannot be educated if they do not have the enthusiasm and curiosity to learn new things. Early childhood education programmes ensure that children develop the curiosity to learn. 

What are early childhood education programmes

Several organisations in India, public, private, and non-governmental sectors provide early childhood education programmes. Below are early child education programmes in India, across different sectors: 

Government organisations

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) plays a key role in providing early childhood education in India. The ministry has set up Anganwadi centres (courtyard shelters) across rural areas to provide health, nutrition, and education to children from minority groups and economically weak groups. The government has facilitated the transition of children from preschool to elementary school, by relocating the Anganwadi centres close to elementary schools and aligning their schedule with those of elementary schools.

Non-government organisations

In India, non-government organisations have an important role in filling the gaps left by the government. NGOs working for education provide early childhood care and child education to marginalised children. As per government estimates, NGOs run child education programmes have provided education to 3 to 20 million children in India. The programmes include direct intervention in areas where there are no government programmes or to improve the quality of government programmes. Oxfam India works with a network of grassroot partners across six states in India, to facilitate education, especially girl child education, and advocates for increased government spending in the public education system. Oxfam India and one of its partner, Lokmitra, run this small school in Raebareily which attracts students from private school as well.

Private Institutes

India has seen a rapid rise in private institutions at all levels of education. As per government estimates, around 10 million children have participated in early child education programmes run by private organisations. Some organisations provide only early childhood care and education, while others may run till elementary school and/or higher secondary school level. Private schools, however, charge exorbitant fee, leaving millions of children out of the education system.

Early childhood education in India

According to Census 2011, there are 164.48 million (approximately 16.5 crores), children from 0 to 6 years of age in India. [6]  These numbers indicate a strong need for efficient early childhood education programmes in India. Constitutional and policy provisions have been made to ensure early childhood education in India.

Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, provides for the right to free and compulsory education for children from 6 to 14 years of age, in purview of the Right to Education Act (RTE) (2009). Article 45 urges the state government to provide Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) to all children till the age of six years. 

The Right to Education Act, guarantees children the right to free education, whereas, ECCE is not stated as a compulsory provision. The RTE states to provide free pre-school education for children above three years. In 2013, the Government of India approved the National Early Childhood Care and Education Policy. [7]  

The policy promotes free, universal, inclusive, equitable, joyful, and contextualised opportunities for laying foundation and attaining full potential for all children below 6 years of age. [8]  It aims to promote a holistic development of children in the said age group. The policy is a key milestone in filling the gap in early childhood care and development in India and strengthening elementary education. 

https://www.educationforallinindia.com/early-childhood-care-and-education-in-india-1.pdf - National University of Education Planning and Administration – New Delhi - page 26

• https://unicef.in/Whatwedo/40/Early-Childhood-Education

https://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/national_ecce_curr_framework_final_03022014%20%282%29.pdf

Education in India is provided by public and private schools. The most important element of the education system in India, is the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, (RTE). RTE constitutionally guarantees education as a fundamental right of every child in the age group of 6 to 14 years.

Despite the provision, there are more than 60 lakh children out of school in India. [10]

In this chapter, we will understand the provisions laid down by the RTE and the gaps in its implementation.

What is Right to Education Act 

The RTE Act (2009) lays down legal provisions to grant every child aged between six to fourteen years, the right to free and compulsory elementary education of an appropriate standard in a neighbourhood school. Here are some interesting facts about RTE.

Education is a concurrent subject in which both the Centre and the states play a role. It is necessary for the states to draft rules to implement the provisions laid down in the RTE, with reference to the framework provided by the Centre. The states can modify the rules to suit their local needs. However, implementation of RTE has greatly varied across the states.  [11]

India continues to fail to spend the financial resources required to meet the minimal norms under the RTE Act. Bihar, for instance, spends only 30% of what is needed to implement the Act in totality – enrolling all children in school, hiring the minimum number of required teachers, improving infrastructure, and providing learning materials. Additionally, Bihar is also failing its children from minority groups.

Hardly 12.7% of schools in India comply with the minimum norms laid down under the RTE Act. There are wide gaps in RTE implementation between different states; ranging from 39% in Gujarat, to less than 1% in Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Lakshadweep. 70% of teachers in Meghalaya lack the required qualifications. [12]  

The RTE Act, Section 12(1)(c) envisions that schools must provide spaces for the economically weaker section of the society so that children from different backgrounds have equal opportunities and that will help build a more equal society. Studies show that giving opportunities to students from different economic backgrounds, makes student more social, generous and egalitarian, and they are less likely to discriminate against poor children. But instead, private schools create hurdles for children with disabilities and those from marginalised communities to avoid their enrolment. 

India’s government spending on education has stayed below 4%, despite successive governments’ electoral commitment to spend 6% of its GDP on education. The government discriminates in the allocation of the education budget. For instance, in government-run Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya Schools, government spending is roughly around Rs. 27,000 and Rs. 85,000 per student, respectively. However, the spending in regular government schools is just over Rs. 3000 per student per year. [13]  Without equitable investment in public schools, inclusive education cannot be achieved. This one of a kind satellite school in East Delhi imparts education with no desks, walls, or chairs.

The inefficient implementation of the RTE Act, is a classic example of the gaps between policy and its implementation. There are limited efforts in building awareness of the provisions of the act, the need of such an Act; among those on the ground responsible for its implementation and those for whom the Act is. [14]  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7WspAXyK5Y Is the government spending enough on education? Our Social Policy Researcher, Kumar Rajesh explains the reality behind the government’s claim of spending 4% of the GDP on education.

Privatization of education in India

In light of the gap left by the government in the education system in India, private schools are growing in huge numbers. However, the increasing rise in private schools is socially segregating children of rich and poor families in India. Financially better off families send their children to private schools, with better facilities and smaller classes, thus widening the economic and social gap in an already unequal society. 

Between 2010-11 and 2015-16, the number of students enrolling in government schools across 20 states fell by 13 million, while 17.5 million new students joined private schools. [15]  Private schools are further unregulated and many of them do not meet the basic standards of infrastructure, safety, and quality of education. However, the condition of public schools is forcing even the poor families in India to enroll their children in private schools, leading to huge financial burden on families. Thus, rendering education in India a privilege, instead of rendering by class and caste.

Even though, the enrolment in government schools is declining they remain the main provider of elementary education in India, accounting for 73.1% elementary school and 58.6% of the total enrolment. [16] India still needs to universalize its education system, by providing better quality public education institutes.

What are the problems in the education system in India [17]

• Lack of a clear definition of an out of school child is a grave concern. Without a clear definition to identify when a child stops going to school and becomes a drop-out, it is difficult to enroll and retain children in school.
• There is ambiguity about specific roles the School Management Committee (SMCs) have to play. The SMCs are not aware of their responsibilities or the members themselves do not know that they are a part of the SMC. A research by a leading non-profit Pratham based in Delhi in 2013 found that only 10 per cent of the SMC parent members interviewed were aware that they were part of the SMCs. [18]
• The SMCs have the mandate to prepare School Development Plans (SDPs), but this is hardly followed in practice. Capacity building programmes for SMCs, to enable them to follow their mandates are not being implemented thus affecting their functioning. [19]
• The RTE Act implies to both public and private schools, but its implementation in private school remains weak. Private schools are on the rise, and they deliberately omit the rule of the RTE, while most government schools struggle to implement because of lack of resources.
• The RTE Act provides for a mechanism to ensure the availability of qualified teachers by setting up teacher training institutions. Some states have completely omitted the provision to set up training institutes.

[9] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Davos%20India%20Supplement.pdf

[10] https://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/upload_document/National-Survey-Estimation-School-Children-Draft-Report.pdf (2014) - pg 9

[11] Federalism and Fidelity – RTE Review (2014) – Oxfam India

[12] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Davos%20India%20Supplement.pdf

[13] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/Government-spends-Rs-85000-on-each-Navodaya-student-annually/articleshow/47754083.cms (2015)

[14] Federalism and Fidelity – RTE Review (2014) – Oxfam India

[15] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Davos%20India%20Supplement.pdf – pg 4

[16] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Davos%20India%20Supplement.pdf – pg 4

[17] Federalism and Fidelity – RTE Review (2014) – Oxfam India

[18] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/OIA-Community-Based-Monitoring-and-Grievance-Redressal-in-Schools-in-Delhi-1012-2015-en.pdf - Policy Brief - Community-Based Monitoring and Grievance Redressal in Schools in Delhi

[19] http://rteforumindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Year-9-Stocktaking-Report-RTE-Forum-draft.pdf

There are several schemes and programmes implemented by the Government of India to ensure child education in India. On 22 January 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, to “change mindsets regarding the girl child”. The campaign was launch with an aim to raise awareness about the declining sex-ratio in India and the importance of girl child education.

Other government schemes for girl child education provide financial support to parents to educate their daughters. Some of these schemes are Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY), and Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana (MRY). These schemes provide benefits such as higher interest rates, direct financial support, and tax benefits to parents for investing in education of their girl child.

Even though some reports have shown increasing enrollment of the girl child, there are still several hurdles in girl child education in India. The World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Study in Uttar Pradesh has shown increased girl child education in private schools over the years. The first data collection was done in 1997-98. The same set of households were surveyed in 2007-08 and then again in 2010-11. Enrolment rate of girls was only 50% as per the first survey. This showed significant improvement, with 65% enrolment in 2007-08 and 72% by 2010-11. [20]

Problem in Girl Child Education [21]

Financial constraints.

Financial restrictions create hurdles for many parents in educating the girl child. Usually, she is forced to stay at home to carry out household chores and take care of her younger siblings while the son in the family is sent to school. Even if some parents wish to educate their girl child, lack of quality schools or other social factors create restrictions.

Household Responsibilities

Many girls are forced to drop out of school because of household responsibilities. Losing a parent or a sick family members forces young girls to take up household chores. Social norms dictate that it is a woman’s duty to do domestic work or take care of sick family members. 12-year-old Meena from Uttar Pradesh, was pulled out of school to take care of household chores and her young siblings.

Early and Forced Marriages

Our society’s obsession with marriage has ruined many lives. Girls are denied education and instead forced to marry at an early age, often before she has attains the physical and emotional maturity to even understand what marriage is. Due to lack of education she cannot make an informed decision of whether she indeed wishes to marry or not, and has no say in choosing the person she is forced to spend her entire life with. Additionally, the later a girl marries, the more the dowry her parents are forced to pay.

Preference of sons over daughters

Son preference further creates problems for a girl child. The  deep-set social norm that sons will take care of the parents in their old age, while girls will have to get married and leave the parents house leads to a lot of preferential treatment to the sons and subsequently, discrimination against the girl child from a very young age. This then leads to parents not giving any importance to the education of the girl child. 

Lack of functional toilets

Lack of basic facilities such as funtional toilets and hand washing areas force children to stay out of school. Girls are especially affected due to lack of functional toiliets once they reach menstruation age. They may be either be absent from school on a regular basis, or drop out of school altogether. 

Long Distance to School

In rural areas, children have to walk, often alone, through forests, rivers, or deserted areas, and cover a long distance to school. Due to increased risk of violence against girls, parents prefer their daughters stay safe at home. Devyani was pulled out of school because she had to walk alone to school, but with Oxfam India’s support she was enrolled back in school.

[20] https://www.isid.ac.in/~soham9r/doc/pvt_paper.pdf - Intra-Household Gender Disparity in School Choice: Evidence from Private Schooling in India – Soham Sahoo, July 2015

[21] https://donate.oxfamindia.org/girl-child-education

[22] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/PN-OIN-ES-Education-07-CSA-Efforts-Effective-Implementation-RTE-EN.pdf

In this chapter we will learn the role civil society plays in the education sector, and how its actions impact the implementation of education policies around the world.

What is a civil society organisation

There is no one clear definition of a civil society organisation (CSO). It is defined in different ways by different organisations. 

A paper by World Health Organisation states that in the absence of a common defination, civil society is usually understood as the social arena existing between the state and the individial or household. It states that the civil sociey lacks regulatory power of the state and the economic power of the market but it provides social power to the ordinary people.

What is the role of civil society

Recently, CSOs have become more prominent across the world. They are growing in number and influence around the world. CSOs play a vital role in the development sector, by asserting the rights of the marginalised communities. Civil society organisations holds the government accountable and ensure their compliance with human rights and international treating and conventions. Oxfam India is one such organisation which mobilizes people and builds movement against discrimination .

On the other hand, governments and institutions around the world have become more motivated in response to the increasing influence of CSOs, to establish a formal mechanism of working with the CSOs.

What is the role of civil society in the education section

Civil society organisations has played an active role in the education sector. CSOs have raised issues ranging from implementation to advocacy. Civil society has brought about significant changes to national education policies and system, through advocacy, across the world, ensuring that the right to education is granted to each person. 

By holding the government accountable, civil society organisations ensures that each individual has equal access to essential services and they can raise their voice against violations of their rights.

What is the role of civil society in education in India

Civil society organisations in India have been playing a crucial role, since more than a decade. They are strengthening the education system in India by actively participating in advocacy, at the national, regional and internation levels in the education sector. There is an increasing collaboration between national, regional, and international CSO, through the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) and Education for All moverment. 

NGOs like Oxfam India campaigns for quality and free public education for all, with a network of other civil society organisations, think tanks, policy makers, parents, and teachers. 

Oxfam India is building a movement of people working to end discrimination and create a free and just society.

Oxfam India is building a movement of Indians coming together to fight discrimination. We stand for the rights of the marginalized such as Adivasis, Dalits, and Muslims, with a special focus on women and girls. We work with the public and policymakers to find lasting solutions to build an inclusive and just India where everyone can have equal access to rights, be safe, get quality education and healthcare, make their voices heard and thrive. We campaign and mobilize people to stand up and speak out, to demand decisions and policies from the government that help them fight inequality and discrimination in India. We save, protect and rebuild lives in times of crisis and humanitarian disasters.

Oxfam India changed the lives of over 1 million people across six poorest states* in India last year and campaigned to reach out to tens of millions more across the country. 

We put the rights of the marginalized at the heart of everything we do, as this will lead to the lasting change we need. Together, we can create a discrimination free India where everyone can live with dignity and free from inequality and injustice. 

Joins us as we fight discrimination today, to end it for good.

(* Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh)

Why we are here

Discrimination in India has been a social evil for ages. It has affected millions of lives in the past and continues to affect people basis their gender, caste, and economic background. 

Everyone has the right to safety, education, health, shelter, food, and water, and people should not have to fight for these rights every day. 

There are millions who are deprived of basic fundamental rights and Oxfam India champions their right to be heard.

With Oxfam India’s efforts, communities live safer lives; have access to health and education, clean water, food, sanitation, and other fundamental needs.   

Oxfam India strives for an inclusive and just society.

How we make it happen

Oxfam India helps people fight discrimination on four fronts. 

• Working with Marginalized communities: We work at the grassroots to generate awareness amongst the most marginalized communities such as Adivasis, Dalit and Muslims to stand up and speak out, to demand their rights and policies that help them fight discrimination and injustice. We work with the most vulnerable people with a special focus on women and girls.
• Public Campaign & Policy making: We work with the public and policy makers to find lasting solutions to build a just and discrimination free India where everyone can have an equal access to rights, be safe, get an education, quality healthcare, make their voices heard and thrive, irrespective of their caste, gender and economic background.
• Humanitarian Response: We save, protect and rebuild lives in times of crisis and humanitarian disasters.

Our commitment

We are committed to the people, both of who we work with and our supporters.

Oxfam India believes in the power of people coming together for justice and against discrimination.

In our 68-year history, we have seen that, when people join hands, raise their voice and demand action, change happens. We are committed to the power of people to fight discrimination and help marginalized communities pull themselves out of inequality and injustice. This is why our work and organization are based in the communities who are most affected in the six poorest states of India so that we can deliver change quickly and with impact.

Oxfam India uniquely combines the power of the public and the learnings from grassroots with the strength of supporters, partners, and allies to make a positive impact in the lives of millions of people. 

From supporting women farmers in Bihar to demanding good quality education for children in Uttar Pradesh, from mobilizing public support in Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad to delivering life-saving aid in Assam and Manipur, we strive to ensure that the most marginalized people are heard.

And we won’t stop until everyone in India can live a life of dignity free from discrimination. 

Our vision for the future

Our vision is a just and discrimination free India. Oxfam India will always be there in times of crisis and injustice to fight the inequalities and discrimination affecting the lives of millions of Indians. 

Over the next five years, we will help many more people of socially excluded groups (Dalit, Adivasis and Muslims), and especially women in ‘Oxfam India focus states’ exercise their rights of citizenship and live a life of dignity, free from discrimination.

And we cannot do it without your support. We need more voices to join us in speaking truth to power so that we can influence the policies and attitudes that will fight discrimination across the nation. 

As India’s leading movement against discrimination, we will not rest until everyone in our country can live in a fairer, equal society, and leave injustice and discrimination behind forever.

In this chapter, we will explore how Oxfam India support girl child education in India and the impact we have created in the last year.

Oxfam India’s role in education

Oxfam India is working to achieve the goal of quality and affordable education for each child in India. We campaign for the right to education of people from the most marginalised communities, especially the girl child.

Gudiya had to discontinue her education after her parents migrated to Delhi from Assam. After Oxfam India’s intervention she was brought at par with regular students and is now on her way to be admitted in a government school in New Delhi.

We advocate for the proper implementation of the Right to Education Act. Oxfam India is the founding member of the National RTE Forum. The forum has almost 10,000 non-government organisations members. The National RTE Forum has been one of the biggest achievements of Oxfam India, in the education sector. The forum brings together like minded groups and people working towards the common goal of inclusive education in India. The forum ensures that different groups work together and learn and support each other. [23]  

Activities undertaken by Oxfam India [24]

Social mobilisation .

Oxfam India works with grass root organisations and initiates debates and dialogues, with teachers, intellectuals, educationist, and the general public on various issues related to the state of education in India. Oxfam India engages with youth on ‘Inequality in Education’ .

We sensitise people from various sections of the society on the right to education, status of RTE, and advocate for the right of the education for children up to 18 years of age. We deploy media channels, form support groups inside the Parliament and among policy makers at both the centre and state level. 

Campaign for Policy Changes

We campaign for stricter regulation of private schools and ensure that 25% reservation for children from economically weaker sections and marginalised groups is implemented. We campaign against all forms of privatization of education in India to ensure that education is a treated as a fundamental right and not a privilege. Oxfam India holds consulations on Right to Education with other civil society organisation in its focus states.

Effective implementation

Oxfam India works with the School Management Committees (SMCs) and local authorities, to ensure effective implementation of the RTE Act. We also work with community members to raise awareness about the issues of marginalised groups, especially the problems of girl child education to ensure fulfilment of the RTE Act’s goal.

Accountability

Oxfam India strives to ensure the government is held accountable for the gaps in the implementation of the RTE, through careful study of the policy and its implementation. We also suggest recommendations for better implementation of the Act.

Oxfam India’s impact

Impact in bihar.

Oxfam India along with its partners, Dalit Vikas Abhiyan Samiti (DVAS) is working towards ending caste based discrimination in schools in Bihar and creating awareness about the value of education among marginalised communities. The Musahar community in Samastipur district of Bihar, is especially discriminated against. Their children are put in separate classrooms and the teachers hardly teach them. Teachers and upper caste students hold the bias that they are “dirty” and “pollute the environment of the school”. Oxfam India and DVAS work towards changing these attitudes. After a series of meetings in 2018 Oxfam India and DVAS managed to push the school administration to let children from the community eat their mid-day meals with other students. The Musahar families consider this an important milestone and say it’s a “big change” they have seen in years. [25]  

Impact in Delhi

When a study by Pratham revealed in 2013 that only 10% of the SMC parent members interviewed were aware that they were part of the SMC, Oxfam India and its partner JOSH (Joint Operation for Social Help) filed a complaint at the Central Information Commission (CIC)in 2011 evoking the Section 4 of the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005. Section 4 of the RTI Act is a proactive disclosure section mandating all public authorities to share information with citizens about their functioning. Since the school is a public authority, compliance to Section 4 was demanded. [26]   Read More about Oxfam India's work on Education in Delhi.

Impact in Jharkhand

Students were irregular in schools in Kolpotka village, Jharkhand. One of the reasons behind this was that they were taught in Hindi. Coming from the Munda tribe, speaking a different language, they could not grasp what was being taught. To raise interest of the students, Oxfam India and its partner Society for Participatory Action and Reflection (SPAR) introduced Multi Lingual Education (MLE) in the schools and appointed part-time teachers in April 2015, who took training in the tribal language. This helped students enrol back in school who had dropped out. The SMC too played a crucial role in getting children back to school. [27]   Read More about Oxfam India's work on Education in Jharkhand.

                                             Part-time teacher appointed by SPAR taking a class at Kolpotka village in                                             West Singhbhum's Manoharpur block.

Impact in odisha.

Odisha has a high percentage of out-of-school children between six and fourteen years of age. One of the key reasons for high dropout rates is the language barrier in the Adivasi belts of the state. Most children in the Adivasi dominated areas have inadequate exposure to Odia, the main medium of teaching. In order to ensure access to quality, universal and inclusive elementary education, Oxfam India along with Sikshasandhan, an NGO based in Odisha, initiated Project Birsa in 2011. As part of the project, Sikshasandhan appointed teachers who could teach in the tribal languages. Eventually, school attendance increased in the Birsa focused schools. [28]   Read More about Oxfam India's work on Education in Odisha.

Books in Odia and Ho made available, by Oxfam India and Sikshasandhan, to students of the 11 primary schools in Noto Gram Panchayat in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.

Impact in uttar pradesh.

In 2016-17 Oxfam India and its partner, Lokmitra, identified 63 out-of-school children from marginalised sections and provided supportive classes. These classes ran for four months. 27 of these children were mainstreamed into formal schools. [29]   Read More about Oxfam India's work on Education in Uttar Pradesh.

Oxfam India and Samarth Foundation introduced sports and extracurricular activities in five schools in 2016, to encourage more children to go to school. Initially, parents were hesitant to allow their daughters to follow sports, they had to be convinced. Eventually, more girls started enrolling in schools. They even train along with boys and outperform them. [30] Read More how girls are outperforming boys in sports.

Oxfam India’s Role in Girl Child Education

In 2018, 7,048 boys and 6,003 girls from our focus areas received quality education. 136 schools and 117 Anagwadi centres were made functional. 440 School Management Committees (SMCs) were made functional in Primary and Upper Primary Schools. When you support Oxfam India’s work, you help end Inequality in education and empower children to become future leaders and change-makers of our country. In just one year, Oxfam India benefited over 13,000 children. People like you make it possible for us to help the most marginlised children and empower girl child education. Visit our story section to know about the children we helped.

When girls stay in school, they are more likely to build an educated and healthier family, earn a better living, and contribute to the development of the society. Oxfam India, NGO for girl child education, aims to bring back girls missing from the classrooms of India and empower them through education. Our young girls leaders are leading the fight for education in India.

How Oxfam India and its supporters sent Rani back to school

Rani, a 16-year-old girl from Raebareli, was compelled to drop out of school after class 7 due to poverty and household responsibilities. But support from our donors sent Rani back to school.

After dropping out of school, she spent all her time in household chores. She woke up at 5 am every day to start household chores. In order to fetch water, she had to go multiple times to a handpump, a little away from her house. She then used to clean the house, wash utensils, feed the buffaloes nearby and prepare breakfast for the entire family.

Her father Harilal is a woodcutter and her mother Sona is a housewife. Rani has three sisters and all have dropped out of school. Her eldest sister is the most educated in the family. She studied till 10th standard before she was married.

But Rani did not let her passion for studies die. Support from our donors sent Rani back to school. Supporters like you helped us and our grassroots partner in Raebareli build a Kishori Shiksha Kendra, an educational training institute for girls, near Rani’s village. Today, Rani is studying and is on her path to follow her passion. “I want to become a teacher and encourage children to attend school and fulfil their dreams.” says Rani. Read more about Rani and her journey back to school.

There are many girls like Rani who are currently outside the education system in India. Socio-economic circumstances force them to leave schools, work at home and at times, as child labours. Often, they are forced to get married at an early age and raise a family.

Oxfam India has been fighting for the implementation of the Right to Education Act in India. 

Oxfam India also advocates for the importance of right to education and aims to change regressive social norms to end discrimination. Deepti, a primary school teacher in our partner’s school keeps paretns motivated to educate their children.

But not every girl is as lucky as Rani. Each girl deserves the chance to fulfil her dreams. We must understand the importance of educating a girl child. Education is the first step to reduce poverty and inequality in any society. 

Educating a girl child helps her develop the ability to make informed decisions, join the work force, overcome poverty, and benefit her community at large, thus contributing to the development of our nation. Importance of girl child education has been observed in several studies. Girl child education has a significant impact on her own child’s development. Many studies indicate that educated women have healthier children, lower child mortality, and impart better education to their children, thus overcoming inequality. [31] These young warriors are the perfect example for fighting inequality through education.

[23] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/PN-OIN-ES-Education-07-CSA-Efforts-Effective-Implementation-RTE-EN.pdf [24] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/PN-OIN-ES-Education-07-CSA-Efforts-Effective-Implementation-RTE-EN.pdf [25] https://www.oxfamindia.org/blog/failed-education-priorities-bihar-government [26] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/OIA-Community-Based-Monitoring-and-Grievance-Redressal-in-Schools-in-Delhi-1012-2015-en.pdf [27] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/OIA-Mobilising-Civil-Society-towards-Right-to-Free-Public-Health-and-Education-in-Jharkhand-14052016-EN.pdf [28] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/Oxfam-in-Action-Promoting-Multi-Lingual-Education-in-Odisha%E2%80%99s-Adivasi-belt-080915-EN.pdf

[29] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/PN_LOKMITRA%20hi-res.pdf

[30] https://www.oxfamindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/samarth.pdf

This chapter will help you understand why you should donate to Oxfam India and the benefits you receive.

How Your Donation Will Change Lives

Your immediate support will help oxfam india .

• Identify out-of-school children
• Provide support to children, especially girls to enrol in school
• Help reduce discrimination in education
• Raise awareness among girls about their rights
• Encourage parents to educate girls 
• Overcome social norms which restrict girl child education
• Urge the government to increase spending on government schools

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhJT_5pCxqU Donate for girl child education in India

Why monthly donation matters

Your monthly donation for girl child education ensures continuous and consistent support for hundreds of girls from marginalised communities. Without which, it will be difficult for Oxfam India to plan a long-term, sustainable programme to support girl child education. It is a small amount for you and a life-line for us at Oxfam India and thousands of children. Through your urgent support, you can help enrol thousands of girls in India who continue to live in poverty and are deprived of their rights. The amount you invest every month will help a child learn, grow and build a better life for themselves and their future generations.

Oxfam India works with children from the top 5 poorest states of India. Nandini’s parents, from Bihar, believed that girl child education is a waste of money. But after attending Oxfam India’s workshop, they now encourage other parents to educate their daughters too!

Your generous donation for education in India will enable children to achieve their dreams and transform our nation.

What’s in it for you

• When you support Oxfam India’s work, you make a difference by helping a child study and contribute to our nation’s development
• You will receive monthly updates from us about the lives you are transforming 
• You will also receive an audited annual report from Oxfam India for fund transparency and work accountability.
• Your donation also helps you in saving tax. We will provide you with Tax exemption certificate, 80G, to claim your tax.

If you wish to cancel your donation at any time, we are just an email away. Write to us at [email protected]

Help us build a nation where every girl child is in school. Bring girls back to school so they can build a better future and an empowered nation.

References:

• https://examplanning.com/types-education-formal-informal-non-formal/
• https://www.pearson.com/corporate/about-pearson/the-importance-of-education.html
• https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-weaknesses-of-non-formal-education
• http://www.studylecturenotes.com/foundation-of-education/non-formal-education-nfe
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310920/
• https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-disadvantages-of-informal-education
• https://en.unesco.org/themes/early-childhood-care-and-education
• https://www.early-childhood-education-degrees.com/what-is-early-childhood-education/
• https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/importance-of-early-childhood-education/

[31] https://www.firstpost.com/india/indias-female-literacy-has-gone-up-but-still-22-percentage-points-behind-world-average-education-among-young-women-rising-7197631.html

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• Speech on Girl Education

Speech on Girl Education in English for Students

Women have suffered the worst of the ongoing male patriarchy for ages. Women have always been the suppressed ones and the males have always been the oppressor ones. To remove this stigma of the society the theory of “EQUALITY” should be promoted. 

Girls have been denied many opportunities to move ahead and all those missed chances from which they can make something of themselves in their life. But due to lack of education women could not get equal to men. 

Education was always off-limits for girls and still continues to be in many rural areas and other parts of the world. 

In this article, we will explore ways of presenting a speech on girls education speech. It can be a long speech on girl child education or a short speech on girl child education. 

Long Speech on Girls Education

This is a five-minute speech on girls' education and will be very useful for Grade 8 to 12 learners who can explain in more detail its importance using clear language.

Hello everyone, esteemed principal, teachers, and my dear friends! I am lucky to have this opportunity to talk about a topic that is close to my heart, the education of a girl child. Education has become a commodity in the community that can only be achieved by the lucky. 

Education contributes greatly to the betterment of society. As an educated person can make educated decisions that will benefit all. Yet half of the people who unite society, Are girls deprived of education.

It was believed that the girls should be ordained for marriage and later take care of the family. For so many years the monarchy prevented women from having their own personalities. Even in rural areas of our country, the practice of banning girls' education is still widespread. 

People do not realize that an illiterate mother and daughter are just a line in the family and in the community. An educated woman has a lot of knowledge about good health care and the ability to care for her children better. At the same time raising educated children.

When a girl child is educated, almost half the population is literate, thus reducing the illiteracy that seems to be rampant in our country. When these educated women create jobs it also contributes to the growth of the social economy and reduces child marriage cases. 

Being financially independent, they can take better care of their families and end poverty. Families will no longer view the birth of a baby girl as a burden that reduces infant mortality.

​​Education helps us to grow and develop ourselves through personal growth and skills. It is one of the basic rights of all people to equal access to education and education in all its forms. Men and women are equally important in this society; none of them should be overlooked for the betterment of the world.

However, we still face issues such as inequality, gender-based decisions when it comes to women's education. However, few people in our community think that girls are born to do only the housework.

If we want to see India grow and prosper, we need to educate our baby girls. They are indeed the future of our nation. Moreover, once they are educated, they will not need to rely on others for their livelihood. 

In addition, educated women can better care for their children. Although literacy rates have skyrocketed since 1947, we still have much room for improvement.

Child marriage is highly regulated, the booking of women by the state and non-governmental organizations is an important step. “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” is one of our government programs that only work in this way.

We must all be open and support girls' education as educated women will be a better asset not only for our country but also for our family.

It's time to educate every woman. And this can be done by promoting workshops for parents and communities that explain the benefits of education. UNICEF (International Children's Fund) Campaign for many issues like this and we should do our part to support it, by donating to organizations that mean that.

A Short Talk on Girl Child Education

How to talk about girls' education can be helpful for Grade 4 to 7 learners who can summarize key points in a short amount of time.

Hello everyone, esteemed principal, teachers, and my dear friends! I ABC (Say your name) Here I will talk about the topic of education for a girl child. Previously, it was believed that girls were only required to take on the role of mothers.

That is why they are seen as a burden that needs to be lifted. And as a result, they were denied the basic right to education. The troubled belief continues to be part of many families in rural areas.

Campaigns to educate girls need support from both men and women. Especially men, because they are in the decision-making positions. It is time for people to realize that if girls are educated, it will benefit their families, communities, and our nation.

Poverty, illiteracy, child mortality, maternal childbirth, and child marriage will be reduced. There will be an increase in socio-economic equality, educated generations, and women in all spheres will be the only problem for the world.

Being an educated woman is important, and also becoming a woman of free will. These women do not fall into the trap of social oppression and are naturally independent. They provide themselves with protective clothing for themselves and others around them. As a woman grows, her nation grows.

Therefore, such organizations that promote girls' education may be supported and supported by everyone, especially the government. All we can do is donate current points near us to further our education.

10 Lines Speech on Girls Education

This is a 10 line speech on girls' education and will be very useful for Grade 1 to 3. 

Hello everyone, esteemed principal, teachers, and my dear friends! I am lucky to have this opportunity to talk about a topic that is close to my heart, the education of a girl child.

Every Girl deserves equal opportunities as boys in terms of education, jobs, living standards and respect for society.

According to my opinion, education is the primary thing that every child deserves whether a boy or a girl education is primary because in this modern world each and everyone is recognised by the degrees they have in their pocket. 

Girls education helps in the betterment of society as education will help to learn etiquettes, ethics and manners which will directly help in creating a better environment. 

By attaining education, girls will be able to understand what's right and wrong plus they will also know some measures to protect themselves in any type of situation. 

Girls' education will make them more independent and financially strong and less dependent on their family or husband. 

Girl Education will help them to understand the importance of hygiene 

Girls education will help to break the stereotypes of the society of child marriage, dowry incidents etc. 

Education will empower women and will help them to fight indiscrimination. 

By attending education, girls can also support their families and can remove the tag of baggage from their heads. 

 In short, Girls education is important for a better future.

When a girl child is educated, nearly half the population is educated, thus reducing illiteracy that seems to be quite high in our country. When these educated women build careers it also adds to the socio-economic growth and decreases the cases of child marriages. As they become financially independent, they can take better care of their families eradicating poverty.

Speech on Girl’s Education for Students and Children

3 minutes speech on girl’s education.

A very warm welcome to all the teachers and students present in the auditorium. I am here to deliver a speech on girl’s education. Education is very necessary for every child whether boy or girl. It helps a person study new things with skill and learn about the facts of the world. Education plays an important role in the protection of women’s rights. It also helps to prevent discrimination based on gender. Education increases productivity in their work. An educated woman has skills, information, talent and self-confidence that make her a better mother, employee, and resident of the country. Women constitute almost half of our population. Men and women are like two aspects of a coin.  Thus, they need equal opportunities to contribute to the development of the country. Both cannot survive without each other.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

It is depressing that some communities still differentiate against the education of the girl child. Education is the key factor for girl’s empowerment, prosperity, development, and welfare. There are continuous inequality and liability of girls in all sectors economic, education, social, political, health care, nutrition, right and legal, etc.

The rise of girl’s education was mainly done by king Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during British rule in India. He paid attention to the education of women. Some leaders of the scheduled caste community like Jyotiba Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar had initiated many initiatives to provide education to the women of India.

At the same time, as a result, the female literacy rate has increased since 1947. Many factors are responsible for less education of women in the society like poverty, distance, insecurity, negative behaviors, child marriage, child labor, religious factors, etc.

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In developing countries, poverty is one of the major problems. Though education is free, the cost of sending children to school is very high. It includes school uniforms, books, etc which is very high for families living below the poverty line. Even if they cannot afford a daily meal, educational expenditure is very distant. This is the reason parents like to keep their daughters at home.

Child  M arriage

In Indian society, cases of child marriage are still present. A girl is forced to marry early and is often taken out of school at a very young age. People generally think that girls learn only domestic tasks. His contribution to household chores is more valuable than his education.

In this way, they give all the time to the family and no time to educate themself. But the educated wife will reduce the burden of her husband’s by sharing a job. The educated wife will educate her children about their rights and moral values.

I would like to conclude by saying that parents need to educate the girls about the qualities and benefits of education. Girl’s education is essential for the future of the country because women are the first teachers of their children.

Uneducated women cannot contribute to family management and fail to take care of children. This is not only the responsibility of the government but also the responsibility of the people around us.

The best part is that our prime minister has made a very goods initiative for the education of girls through the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign in the villages. For the development of our country, we need to educate all the girls. Because it is a fact that girls have achieved more success than boys in less time.

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Education Cannot Wait Calls for Education to be Protected and Resourced as Children Across Ukraine Enter Third School Year Under War

The education of 4 million children has been disrupted, with some 600,000 children not able to access in-person learning due to ongoing fighting, attacks and displacement.

On a high-level UN mission to Ukraine this week, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) leadership met with girls and boys impacted by the brutal war and partners on the ground to better understand how the education of some 4 million children across Ukraine has been disrupted.

The visit concluded at the Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen with ECW calling on world leaders to commit to protecting education from attack and to scale-up funding to provide life-saving access to safer in-person classes, remote learning opportunities when necessary, and remedial catch-up classes, driven by quality and inclusive education.

“This atrocious war must stop now! For as long as the children, adolescents and teachers in Ukraine suffer this unfathomable horror, schools must be protected from attacks. As a global community we must rise to the challenge before us to ensure that every girl and every boy in Ukraine impacted by this brutal war and the refugees have access to the safety, hope and opportunity that only a quality education can provide,” said Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait ( ECW ), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations. “Our investment in education is an investment in recovery, peace, security and justice for Ukraine and beyond. It is an investment in the vast potential of future generations.”

ECW and its strategic donor partners have provided more than US$26.9 million in funding to support quality, holistic education programmes in Ukraine since 2017. Delivered by a consortium of partners including Finn Church Aid, the Kyiv School of Economics, Save the Children and UNICEF – in coordination with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science – the programmes have reached more than 360,000 children, about 65% of whom are girls.

“The support from Education Cannot Wait is critical for children, their parents and teachers who are doing everything they can to keep classrooms open and to continue in-person learning despite the impact of the war across the country,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine.

ECW’s support includes a US$20.4 million allocation to roll out a Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Ukraine. The investment seeks to mobilize millions more in additional funding and reach more than 150,000 children across 10 of Ukraine’s most-impacted areas.

The investments work to improve learning outcomes by providing safer and more accessible physical learning environments, expanding digital learning initiatives and providing alternative education opportunities. To address the challenges facing the girls and boys who are living through this ongoing conflict, there is also a strong focus on mental health and psychosocial support, and targeted support for girls and children living with disabilities.

At last year’s Education Cannot Wait High-Level Financing Conference, the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBCE) pledged to mobilize US$50 million from the business community in support of ECW’s four-year strategic plan. In partnership with GBCE, TheirWorld, HP and Microsoft, US$39 million in partnership and device donation for ECW has already been mobilized, and over 70,000 laptops have been shared with schools, teachers and other people in need, both inside Ukraine and in neighboring countries.

Since the start of the school year in early September, deadly and destructive attacks have again affected education facilities across Ukraine. Approximately 600,000 school-aged children are not able to access in-person learning, and since the start of the war over 1,300 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed, according to UNICEF . Even when children are in school, the constant threat of bombings and attacks is disrupting the quality and continuity of education for children who have been pushed from their homes, lost loved ones in the fighting, and live under constant threat.

Education Cannot Wait and its strategic partners are calling for US$600 million in additional funding to deliver on the global targets outlined in the Fund’s four-year strategic plan to provide children in crisis-impacted countries everywhere with quality, holistic education, and the hope for a better tomorrow.  

Note to Editors

B-roll and high-resolution photos are available here .

About Education Cannot Wait (ECW): Education Cannot Wait ( ECW ) is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations. We support quality education outcomes for refugee, internally displaced and other crisis-affected girls, and boys, so no one is left behind. ECW works through the multilateral system to both increase the speed of responses in crises and connect immediate relief and longer-term interventions through multi-year programming. ECW works in close partnership with governments, public and private donors, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other humanitarian and development aid actors to increase efficiencies and end siloed responses. ECW urgently appeals to public and private sector donors for expanded support to reach even more vulnerable children and youth.

On X/Twitter, please follow:   @EduCannotWait   @YasmineSherif1   @KentPage  

Additional information available at : www.educationcannotwait.org   For press inquiries: Anouk Desgroseilliers, [email protected] , +1-917-640-6820 Kent Page, [email protected] , +1-917-302-1735  

For other inquiries: [email protected]

For Press Inquiries:

Anouk Desgroseilliers: [email protected] +1-917-640-6820

Kent Page: [email protected] +1-917-302-1735

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