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This report argues that girls’ education is essential to ensure a more
healthy and prosperous future for all children and for countries as a
whole. The study shows which countries are succeeding and which are
failing to make progress in girls’ education and examines the ways
investments in schooling for girls can benefit society as a whole,
highlighting successful programmes and policies even in very poor
countries.
The main findings include:
- educated mothers are more likely to be healthy, well-nourished,
economically empowered and resourceful when it comes to the health and
education of their children. Schooling for girls helps reduce the
incidence of AIDS and lessens the likelihood that mothers will infect
their babies with HIV at birth. Girls’ education leads to increases in
income, both for individuals and for nations as a whole. It also helps
promote democracy and civic participation by women. In emergency
situations education for girls plays a useful role in protecting against
some of the worst forms of suffering and abuse
- the top three countries, in terms of progress in girls’ education
between 1990 and 2000, are Bolivia, Kenya and Cameroon. The bottom
three, Rwanda, Iraq and Malawi, have shown little or no progress,
primarily because of conflict, AIDS and rapid population growth
- the top-ranked countries have used a variety of strategies to get
girls into school and keep them there, these include sweeping reforms to
their education systems at the national level; and working with
international organisations to launch innovative scholarship programmes,
food-for-education incentives, child care for younger siblings and
awareness-raising campaigns.
Recommendations include:
- eliminate school fees and other costs that prevent girls from
enrolling in school
- improve the quality of education to keep girls in school at the
primary level
- promote alternative schooling for girls affected by AIDS, conflict
and natural disasters
- expand girls’ secondary school opportunities
- engage men and civic groups with shared interests as advocates for
girls’ education
- increase government support for girls’ education in the developing
world.
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