As per data available on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) resources, 60 million girls worldwide have no access to basic education. Of the 960 million people who are illiterate worldwide, two-thirds are women. Around 129 million girls are out of school, including 32 million of primary school age, 30 million of lower-secondary school age, and 67 million of upper-secondary school age. In countries affected by conflict, girls are more than twice as likely to be out of school as girls in non-affected countries. Globally, 1 in 4 girls (age 15-19) are neither employed nor in school, compared with 1 in 10 boys. As per a World Economic Forum report, women all over the world continue to face economic impediments, unequal wages, challenging workplace conditions, and exclusion from meaningful economic and political productivity. As per a new report on the UNESCO website, the costs of the gender gap in education add up to $10 billion a year.
Some of the critical outcomes of elevated levels of Girls’ Education include:
Better employment opportunities leading to greater levels of financial independence among girls. In the US, for example, the mean earnings for women in 2021 stood at $65,987 per year. However, there was a difference of $97,380 in the income of women with a high school diploma versus a professional degree, as per data available on Statistica.com. An extra year of secondary school for girls can increase their future earnings by 10 to 20 percent.
STEM and digital literacy as pivotal tools to access lucrative careers for girls. The global participation of women is much lower than men in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) workforce. As per United Nations Development Program resources, “Skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are vital tools for women to play a constructive role in tackling critical and urgent sustainable development problems, ranging from climate crises to food insecurity to gender-based violence.”
Rising graph of economic productivity in family, community, and society correlates with girls’ education. As per the United States Agency for International Development website (2017-20), if 10% more adolescent girls attend school, a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increases by 3%. Cutting down the school dropout rates, both for girls and boys, would increase annual GDP growth by 1 to 2%.
Better Health and Wellness Outcomes for Families, including mental health and substance abuse disorders. A child whose mother can read is 50% more likely to live past age 5. Increasing educational opportunities for girls and women leads to reduced domestic abuse and violence, and a reduction in the rate of social malpractices like child marriage. Education empowers women with an increased ability to promote a safe environment for children and young generations to thrive, as per credible studies and surveys that have been conducted on this subject.
Girls’ education can create greater awareness and agency among women to tackle climate change. As per an article by Christina Kwauk on February 10, 2021 issue of the Brookings Institute journal, women are more prone to extreme effects of climate change, and can tackle issues related to reproductive health, pro-environmental decision-making, and access to “green skills for green jobs” with a mode of education focused on environment. A detailed perspective on how organizations like Rotary International, UNESCO, and “Greening Education Partnerships” are promoting Climate Change Education in schools is available on multiple sites and online resources pertinent to these organizations. A detailed view of how Rotary, United Nations Children's Emergency Fund, and a cross-section of educational communities around the world are fostering sustainable living and biodiversity among global communities is accessible in pertinent editions of the Environment Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) Newsletter.
If you are interested in serving on the Girls’ Education Professional Team of Experts or learning more about this Rotary Initiative, please reach out to Anu Narula, Girls’ Education Chair in the Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group Board of Directors via email at: mylife2reinvented@gmail.com.