UNESCO reports shows: the higher the level of education, the greater the disparity
In less than half the countries on earth and none of sub-Saharan Africa do girls have the same rights to education as boys. This is the conclusion of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report "Gender and Education for All 2000 – 2015: Achievements and Challenges".
This report makes it clear: the higher the level of education, the greater the disparity. Some 70 per cent of the world's countries have achieved gender parity in pre-school, 66 per cent in primary school, 50 per cent at lower secondary level and 29 per cent at upper secondary level. In only four per cent of countries is there equality between the sexes in higher education.
"62 countries have achieved equal rights for the sexes in primary and secondary education. That's 26 more than in 1999. However, a glance at the trends at all levels of education over the last 15 years shows that equality needs to remain a major focus for the international community.
Even in Germany, there is still a great deal work to do: here, access to school education is the same for girls and boys. However, even though more women than men graduate from higher education, this has not yet had an impact on their career opportunities or equal pay. This is where we have to invest," said Walter Hirche, member of the board at the German UNESCO Commission.
While girls tend to be disadvantaged early on in their educational careers, boys and men run into difficulties later. When global comparisons are made, girls have access to education from pre-school to lower secondary level much less often than boys.
Yet at the same time, in many countries, boys and men suffer from inequality in the upper secondary level, vocational education and training and higher education. Not only access figures but also success in learning is a key indicator for equality: although it's poorest girls who have the worst chances of being sent to school, it is still boys who more often fail to make progress or obtain qualifications, despite being more likely to be sent to school.
In OECD countries, 73 per cent of girls complete secondary education, but only 63 per cent of boys. In vocational and higher education, there is also considerable inequality, which is worsening. With the exception of South and West Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, worldwide more women than men begin higher education.
The report emphasises that real learning opportunities and success are also important, alongside equal access to education for boys and girls. The authors of the report recommend that countries should anchor equality for boys and girls in all their educational policy strategies.
They point out that young people who are not attending school need to be offered alternative educational pathways. The report also makes it clear that gender-based violence has to be fought on all sides: by governments, international organisations and stakeholders in education.
UNESCO is working to enable all everyone, all over the world to take part in high quality education and develop their potential. The organisation advises member states on the design of their educational system, supports international cooperation and provides educational data on which policy strategy can be based across the world.
UNESCO undertakes coordination and monitoring tasks with the aim of achieving more inclusive, equal opportunity, high quality education and lifelong learning, as described in the global sustainability agenda.