Educating girls The global picture Joan Garrod Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

Educating girls Though there has been progress in recent years, mainly due to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), girls continue to suffer severe disadvantage and exclusion in education systems in many countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 2 out of 35 countries have gender parity in education. South and west Asia have the largest gender gaps in out-of-school populations, with 80% of out-of-school girls unlikely ever to start school, compared to 16% of out-of-school boys. In 2013, an estimated 31 million girls of primary school age and 12 million girls of early- secondary school age were out of school. Two-thirds of the world’s 774 million illiterate people are female. Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

Educating girls Philip Allan Publishers © 2015 Source: United Nations Global Monitoring Report

Educating girls Why are fewer girls than boys in education? What are some of the barriers to girls’ education? Working with a partner, take five minutes to see how many you can think of. The next slide will give you some answers — you may have thought of other equally valid ones. Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

Barriers to girls’ education These are some factors cited by UNICEF: Cultural norms that favour boys’ education when there are limited family resources. Inadequate sanitation facilities in schools, such as lack of private and separate toilets. Negative classroom environments where girls may face violence, exploitation or corporal punishment, and a lack of female teachers. Household obligations, such as domestic work and caring for younger siblings. Health problems, such as female genital mutilation. Marriage — one-third of girls in the developing world are married before they are 18, and one-third of women give birth before the age of 20. Discriminatory legislation and policies — in Afghanistan and Pakistan there have been formal threats to close girls’ schools, and gender-motivated attacks on girls’ schools. Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

The importance of educating girls As well as being a basic human right, education, particularly of females, is a key factor in accelerating the demographic transition to lower birth and mortality rates, and thus to economic development. Women who are educated: are less likely to get married at an early age are more likely to have influence over their own lives are less likely to die in childbirth and tend to have fewer children reduce the overall level of child mortality are 50% more likely to have their children immunised and give their children better nutrition are less likely to be taken advantage of, and therefore less likely to contract HIV/AIDS are less likely to become victims of domestic violence are able to contribute to the family income are healthier and have greater self-confidence make a significant contribution to their community see the need to promote education for others Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

Some effects of educating girls In its 2013 global monitoring report, the United Nations ‘Education for all’ programme looked at some of the specific effects on societies of educating females. These are shown in the following slides. Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

Child brides Philip Allan Publishers © 2015 Marriages to girls under 15 would fall by: 14% if all girls had primary education 64% if all girls had secondary education

Fertility rate The average number of births to women in sub-Saharan Africa: With no education6.7 With primary education5.8 With secondary education3.9 Philip Allan Publishers © 2015

Early births Philip Allan Publishers © 2015 Early births are births to girls under 17. In low-income countries, these would fall by: 10% if all girls had primary education 59% if all girls had secondary education

Stunted children Philip Allan Publishers © 2015 ‘Stunted’ children are children with below-average growth. There are 47 million stunted children in low-income countries. The percentage of stunted children in these countries would fall by: 4% if all girls had primary education — 1.7 million fewer stunted children 26% if all girls had secondary education — 12.2 million fewer stunted children

Educating girls Sources: United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative UNICEF OECD The World Bank The Right — campaign group working to increase access to equality and opportunity through education This resource is part of Sociology Review, a magazine written for A-level students by subject experts. To subscribe to the full magazine go to Philip Allan Publishers © 2015