Education for Every Girl

Education is every child's right, yet around the world, 119 million girls are out of school. 

Poverty, conflict, gender discrimination, child marriage and violence continue to prevent millions of girls from learning. In some communities, schools do not meet girls' safety, hygiene or sanitation needs. In others, teaching practices fail to support girls equally. When girls miss out on education, they are more likely to face poorer health outcomes, earn lower incomes, and have fewer opportunities to shape their own futures. 

Education can change the course of a girl's life. It gives girls the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to thrive, while helping them build healthier, safer and more secure futures. UNICEF works with local governments, communities and partners to remove barriers to learning and ensure every girl has the opportunity to go to school, stay in school and reach her full potential. 

More than 2.6 million girls in Afghanistan have been denied a secondary education since 2021. 

© UNICEF/UN0904364/Azizi 

Afghanistan is the only country in the world where secondary and higher education remains effectively closed to girls and women. Over the past five years, more than 2.6 million girls have been denied the opportunity to attend secondary school.  

Fifteen-year-old Shafiqa is one of them. Since being barred from school, she has continued learning at home and sought out opportunities to develop new skills. But courses in art and computing that she enrolled in were later closed to girls as well. Today, she studies independently and practices sewing, determined not to give up on her future. 

Shafiqa's story reflects the resilience of millions of girls across Afghanistan. But the impact extends far beyond the classroom. By 2030, Afghanistan could lose up to 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 female health workers if restrictions on girls' education continue. This would affect the health, wellbeing and future opportunities of children and families across the country. 

What is UNICEF doing to help educate girls around the world?

UNICEF works with local communities, governments and partners to remove barriers to girls' education, even in the most challenging settings. We: 

• Provide access to formal and non-formal education, including early learning and emergency education programs for girls affected by conflict, disasters and displacement. 
• Create safe, inclusive learning environments. 
• Provide learning materials that help girls continue their education. 
• Help girls stay in school and transition to secondary education. 
• Address barriers such as harmful gender norms, distance to school, menstrual hygiene needs and re-entry for young mothers. 
• Promote gender equality in education by supporting policies, programs and learning materials that empower girls. 

Across the world, girls are determined to learn despite poverty, conflict, displacement and disaster. With access to education, safe learning spaces and the supplies they need to keep learning, girls can continue building the knowledge, skills and confidence to shape their own futures.