Gender-equal education

Policymakers and activists worried about girls being left behind must look beyond access.

Ensuring inclusive, equitable, high-quality education for all is a major pillar of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals . Three decades ago, fewer girls were in school than boys. Among those girls who were fortunate enough to be enrolled, the majority dropped out early . In many parts of the developing world, social norms and poverty combined to limit girls’ educational and social opportunities. However, improvements over the past 25 years in girls’ enrollment in primary and secondary education have been dramatic, significantly reducing educational gender disparities.