Female Education in Developing Countries

GLOBAL TREND FOR GIRLS' EDUCATION 

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Education is a basic human right and girls’ education enables high returns in breaking cycles of poverty and aiding economic growth. Education is a strategic priority for The Gambia, like many other countries around the world as well as Goal 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all”.

In addition to breaking the cycle of poverty, girls’ and women education also enhances their health, delays early marriage, improves their confidence as well as the health and survival of their children and families. However, despite these benefits, an estimated 130 million girls across the globe are out of school, effectively meaning the rights of those girls to education continue to be violated.

In The Gambia, according to the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative, only 62% of females between the ages of 15-24 in the country are literate. Girls and women in The Gambia face barriers to education every day, including poverty and cultural norms, which continue to be major barriers causing the exclusion of 38% of female Gambians from accessing education.

Many girls in school also find it difficult to remain and continue in school due to poverty and cultural norms and practices. According to Gambia’s Education Sector 2016-30, “Accessible, Equitable and Inclusive Quality Education for Sustainable Development”, 26% of twelve-year-old Gambian girls do not complete 6 years of basic education (Grade 6) and in The Gambia Government estimated that 43% of students in the country will reach Grade 9 and only 21% will reach Grade 12.

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