Empowering girls through education: a global imperative

In the present age, it’s disheartening that millions of girls still face significant barriers to education. These obstacles, ranging from deeply ingrained cultural norms to the harsh realities of climate change and conflict, demand our immediate attention. There is an urgent need to address this issue, and to assess the transformative power of education, international examples, and its profound positive impacts on societies and nations.

My personal journey of being married off at a young age and denied the opportunity to complete my education, only to return to it later and complete an MBA, which then led me to build a highly successful career whilst breaking through societal barriers, exemplifies the transformative potential of education in surmounting societal impediments.

Girls’ education: a global crisis

The issue of girls’ education has profound implications for entire communities and nations. Education is globally recognised as an indispensable human right and a cornerstone for empowering girls and women. Yet, girls continue to confront an array of educational barriers, including poverty, gender discrimination, and early marriages. This bleak reality condemns them to a lifetime of missed opportunities and constrained potential, making our world poorer for it.

Breaking down barriers

Premature marriages further exacerbate this crisis, relegating education to a low priority. As a result, countless girls are denied their right to education, stifling their personal growth and hindering their contribution to society.

Inadequate infrastructure and learning environments also hinder girls’ education. For instance, in many developing nations, girls drop out of school due to the lack of basic sanitation facilities, particularly during menstruation. According to UNESCO, one in ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstrual cycle. In Somalia, drought worsens these educational barriers as children are displaced, schools are destroyed, and water scarcity disrupts daily life. Often tasked with fetching water, girls face a challenging dichotomy between education and household responsibilities.

The situation in Afghanistan is a glaring example of the challenges facing girls’ education. Political instability, economic uncertainty, educational disparities, sexual violence, and poor health plague Afghan women and children. The recent ban by the de facto Taliban government saw 1.2 million denied access to college and secondary schools. As of February 2023, UNESCO reports that 2.5 million school-aged girls and young women in Afghanistan do not attend school, underscoring the gravity of the issue.

STEM and ICT skills

The significance of STEM and ICT skills in Africa has grown exponentially due to the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, which has ushered in numerous new job opportunities in these domains. Consequently, there is an ever-increasing urgency to ensure that girls have equitable access to and engagement with these areas. Work is taking place to provide girls with the opportunity to receive mentorship from female role models and gain exposure to cutting-edge 21st-century digital skills such as artificial intelligence, coding, robotics, 3D printing, and more. For example, this summer a transformative initiative led by UNESCO, the Ministry of Education and Prada allowed over 200 Kenyan girls to participate in specialised ICT-STEM boot camps.

Despite their undeniable association with progress, women and girls continue to be significantly underrepresented in STEM and ICT careers. This gender disparity is a global issue, as evidenced by the International Telecommunication Union’s Facts and Figures report for 2022, which reveals that girls still lag behind boys in terms of possessing digital skills on a global scale. Furthermore, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, in its 2019 report, highlighted that women account for only 29.3% of scientific researchers worldwide. This highlights the pressing need for concerted efforts to rectify this gender imbalance in STEM and ICT fields and harness the full potential of girls and women in these vital fields.

Initiatives for change: the role of nations

In Bangladesh, the success of microfinance institutions like Grameen Bank, founded by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, was significantly propelled by women’s education. Women who received education through such programs were better equipped to manage financial resources, leading to improved family income and poverty reduction.

Rwanda, often celebrated for its commitment to gender equality, has made significant strides by investing in girls’ education. As a result, women now occupy prominent roles in politics and leadership, making Rwanda an exemplar of gender parity.

In India, the ‘Kishori Vikas’ program aimed at educating adolescent girls in rural areas has not only improved literacy rates but has also had a positive impact on the overall development of these communities. Girls educated under this initiative are actively participating in community activities, promoting sustainable development.

Government commitments: the UK’s Girls’ Education Strategy

Governments are acknowledging the pivotal role of girls’ education. The United Kingdom has been a prominent advocate for girls’ education globally, recognizing it as a vital tool for empowering individuals, fostering gender equality, and promoting economic growth. The UK government’s Girls’ Education Strategy, recognizes education as a fundamental human right and a potent instrument for poverty alleviation, improved health outcomes, and economic growth.

UK aid has significantly contributed to expanding access to education for girls in some of the world’s most underserved regions. By investing in infrastructure, scholarships, and targeted programs, UK aid has helped bring more girls into classrooms.

Investing in a brighter future

Investing in girls’ education is a moral imperative and a strategic necessity. Educated girls and women experience improved health outcomes, increased workforce participation, and are better equipped to uplift their families and communities. It is high time we recognize that empowering girls through education is not just the right thing to do; it is the smartest investment for a brighter future for individuals, communities, and entire nations.