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Educate Girls and Build Stronger Nations   
April 23, 2007—Education is a basic building block in every nation's development. It is also a human right that is out of reach for the one in five people worldwide who are illiterate, according to the Global Campaign for Education. Development experts agree that education is a crucial step in tackling poverty and improving health. A child born to a literate mother is 50 percent more likely to survive to age five. And, providing girls with one extra year of schooling beyond the average can boost their wages by up to 20 percent. Yet, around the world today, over 100 million children—most of them girls—are out of school. And 800 million adults—most of them women—are illiterate. April 23-29 is Education for All week, led by the Global Campaign for Education. This year's theme is “Education as a Human Right.” Education has been enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights since 1948, yet nations have not done enough to ensure that every child's right to an education becomes a reality. Many world leaders promised to work toward a set of goals adopted in 2000 that would achieve "Education for All" by 2015. These goals include:
Despite progress in these areas, the first deadline of gender parity by 2005 has not been met.
Yet, solutions are within reach. The Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) has worked for over 30 years to tap parents, local leaders and religious institutions to build community support for girls to go to school and stay in school. CEDPA's Better Life Options program has been adapted in communities worldwide to provide girls and boys with practical, non-formal education that expands opportunities and builds their life skills. In Egypt, CEDPA currently applies this approach in the Ishraq project, a collaboration with Caritas, Population Council and Save the Children. The project works to improve girls’ lives through literacy, health awareness, skills building, physical activity and civic engagement. Participants in the program are 13-15 year old girls who are currently out of school. Most of these girls, more than 80 percent, had never attended school. Upon completion of the program, girls take an adult education exam to qualify them to return to school. Thus far, 92 percent of the Ishraq program graduates have passed the exam, and many now attend formal schooling. Working hand-in-hand with our community partners, CEDPA has had similar success in expanding girls' education in countries including India, Nigeria and South Africa. All are now applying the Better Life Options model to ensure that girls in their communities are more likely to be educated, healthy and empowered to face their future. Learn more about CEDPA’s work in girls’ education and in Egypt. |
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