What is the Right to Education?
The right to education is a fundamental human right, crucial for exercising other rights and essential for individual well-being. However, girls worldwide still face significant barriers to education. 129 million girls are out of school, including 32 million primary-aged, 30 million lower-secondary, and 67 million upper-secondary-aged girls. In conflict-affected countries, girls are over twice as likely to be out of school.
9 million primary-aged girls may never attend school, compared to 3 million boys. Almost 1 in 3 adolescent girls from the poorest households globally have never been to school.
The right to education includes:
Free, compulsory primary education;
Accessible, free secondary education, including technical and vocational;
Higher education, accessible based on individual capacity and progressively free;
Fundamental education for those who have not completed their education;
Professional training opportunities;
Equal quality of education with minimum standards;
Quality teaching and teacher resources;
Adequate fellowship systems & material conditions for teachers;
Freedom of choice in education.
How Does the Right to Education Impact on Girls’ Human Rights?
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EQUALITY & NON-DISCRIMINATION
Equality and non-discrimination: Education promotes gender equality, challenging attitudes and practices that prevent girls from accessing opportunities like boys.
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EMPOWERMENT & SELF-DETERMINATION
Education equips girls with knowledge, skills, & confidence to make informed decisions, develop critical thinking, & participate in decision-making processes.
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REDUCED VIOLENCE & EXPLOITATION
Education helps protect girls from violence, including child marriage, female genital mutilation, & human trafficking, & empowers them to advocate for their rights.
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ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
Education increases girls' chances of better-paying jobs and financial independence, reducing vulnerability to poverty and exploitation.
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HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Educated girls have better physical and mental health, make informed decisions about their bodies, and access healthcare services.
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CIVIC PARTICIPATION
Education fosters civic engagement, encouraging girls to actively participate in their communities and contribute to decision-making processes.
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SOCIAL & CULTURAL CHANGE
Educated girls challenge gender stereotypes, promote cultural change, and advocate for a more inclusive and egalitarian society.
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INTERGENERATIONAL BENEFITS
Educated women are more likely to send their children, especially daughters, to school, creating a positive cycle of education & empowerment for future generations.
What Are the Challenges in Realising the Right to Education?
Gender stereotypes: Traditional domestic roles for females discourage girls from pursuing high-value careers & make society prioritize boys' education.
Discriminatory legislation and policies: Laws influenced by social norms, eg. child marriage or biased school admission criteria, leave girls out of school.
Financial barriers: When families cannot afford school fees or related expenses, girls are more likely to drop out.
Distance and safety: Long distances to schools in rural areas pose safety concerns for girls and affect their freedom of movement.
Inadequate infrastructure: Schools lacking separate facilities for girls, such as toilets or changing rooms, discourage attendance.
Discriminatory school policies: Gender-insensitive dress codes & exclusion from extracurricular activities can limit girls' education.
Biased learning environments: Teachers may favour boys, pushing girls into non-professional courses. Discriminatory curricula can reinforce this bias.
Child pregnancy: Laws denying pregnant girls access to school can prevent them from completing their education.
Gender-based violence: Harassment, assault, & abduction of girls traveling to and from school or at school can hinder their education.
Harmful practices: Practises such as child marriage, can force girls out of school & into household responsibilities.
Conflict and instability: Natural disasters, criminal violence, or conflict can disrupt social structures and schools, worsening gender inequality and compromising girls' right to education.
The International Legal Framework
How Can Girls Advocate for the Right to Education?
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Girls can use social media, blogs, and other communication forms to inform others about the importance of education and the barriers girls face.
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Girls can join or form organizations focused on promoting gender equality and the right to education, collaborating with others to amplify their voices.
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Girls can organize or participate in events, workshops, and discussions, raising awareness about the importance of girls' education and challenges they face.
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Lobbying decision-makers: Girls can engage with policymakers, school administrators, and stakeholders to advocate for policies and programs ensuring equal access to education for all.
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Girls can use national and international legal instruments guaranteeing the right to education as advocacy tools, pushing for their implementation and enforcement.
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Girls can advocate for safe, inclusive, and gender-sensitive schools that address their unique needs and challenges.
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Girls can organize and participate in fundraising activities supporting education initiatives for girls in marginalized and underserved communities.
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Girls can track progress on education in their communities and countries, holding governments accountable for their commitments to providing quality education for all.