Education is every child's right, yet worldwide, 129 million girls are out of school.
UNICEF is working to make sure every girl has the opportunity to go to school, to learn, to make friends, and to prepare for the future. We want girls to be unstoppable.
The chance to learn is particularly vital for girls who have spent their young lives caught in horrific crises, living through natural disasters, or caught in poverty. Added to this, the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the learning of 616 million children who are still impacted by full or partial school closures.
School is a safe place where girls can learn, play, heal psychological wounds, access medical help and regain hope for a better future.
Girls education in Afghanistan
More opportunities for girls
Although schools reopened in March 2023, the ban on secondary education for girls remained, leaving 1 million girls with no access to secondary education. And there is no indication on whether the ban will be lifted.
In 2022, 4.4 million Afghan children are out of school, and 60 per cent of them are girls. UNICEF is doing everything it can to ensure all children can get an education, including supporting 15,000 community-based classes across Afghanistan.
In this accelerated learning centre, over 100 girls attend classes in grades 1-6, completing two grades in one year before transitioning to secondary school.
Unfortunately, there is no secondary school for girls in this community to which the girls can transition.
People are eager for their daughters to study. One parent said, "We wish our daughters to be literate and to be useful people for the society in the future. The girls have high aspirations. They want to become doctors, engineers, scientists or professors. But since the government transition and secondary school girls are not allowed to study, many families are disappointed."
Help provide education for every girl.
Make an impact for girls around the world, by helping us to provide them with the opportunity to learn.
Education for Every Girl
Let’s break down the barriers and help girls to become relentless and empowered.
Education for girls is about more than access to school. It’s also about girls feeling safe and comfortable in the classroom.
Each month, girls are forced to stay home because their school lacks supplies and the sanitation facilities they need to manage their periods. They are worried about being teased, shamed, and stigmatised for something that is healthy and natural to every woman.
Getting a period without access to clean water and sanitation facilities is not easy for teenage girls and women. There is a lack of hygienic menstruation supplies and access to safe and private toilets to wash themselves and their menstrual cloths.
24%
Only 24 per cent of countries have equal representation of girls in upper secondary education.
1 in 7
At least 1 in 7 girls globally – 222 million in total – was unable to access remote learning programs when schools were closed due to COVID-19.
1 in 3
1 in 3 adolescent girls from the poorest households have never been to school.
1 in 4
Nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 years old are neither employed nor in education or training – compared to 1 in 10 boys.
What is UNICEF doing to help educate girls around the world?
UNICEF works with communities, governments, and partners to remove barriers to girls’ education and promote gender equality in education – even in the most challenging settings. We:
- Address obstacles like distance-related barriers to education, re-entry policies for young mothers, and menstrual hygiene management in schools.
- Tackle discriminatory gender norms and harmful practices that deny girls access to school and quality learning.
- Support governments to ensure that national education plans and policies prioritise gender equality.
- Help schools and governments use assessment data to eliminate gender gaps in learning.
- Promote social protection measures to improve girls’ transition to and retention in secondary school.
- Remove gender stereotypes from learning materials.
From refugee camps and conflict zones to countries torn apart by natural disasters, girls are going to extraordinary lengths to learn despite the risks they may face. These girls don’t want to give up, but they urgently need our help. Something as vital as a dignity kit or as simple as an exercise book can help get girls back to school and learning.
"Do not underestimate girls. We girls are capable but we need you to support us and stand with us. Don’t deprive us of the right to achieve our dreams and continue our education. "
How will my donation help girls?
The impact you can make for girls across the world is immense. Empower girls by keeping them in school.
- $80 could provide 2000 pencils, so that girls don’t need to go without at school.
- $133 could provide 15 reusable Dignity Pads, so they can feel safe and comfortable at school all month long.
- $258 could provide a ‘School-in-a-Box’ for 40 students, so that girls can keep learning even when disaster strikes.
- 82¢last year, 82 cents went directly to program expenditure and community education, including long-term development and emergency response work.
- 13¢last year, 13 cents covered the essential costs of raising public awareness and fundraising to generate more support for UNICEF’s work.
- 5¢last year, 5 cents were spent on UNICEF Australia’s accountability and administration.
How do we use each dollar donated?
Education for Every Girl
Let’s break down the barriers and help girls to become relentless and empowered.