UNESCO Global Education Report 2025

The UNESCO Global Education Report 2025 highlights that 133 million girls worldwide remain out of school, three decades after the Beijing Declaration (1995), despite significant improvements in enrolment.

Global Snapshot

• Progress: Since 1995, over 91 million more girls attend primary school and 136 million more attend secondary school.
• Persistent Gaps: Despite enrolment gains, major disparities remain in access, quality, and educational outcomes.

Regional Parity Achievements and Challenges

• Central and South Asia: Achieved gender parity in secondary education.
• Sub-Saharan Africa & Oceania: Lagging due to poverty, rural isolation, and conflict.
  • Example: In Mali and Guinea, fewer than 20% of girls complete lower secondary education.

Persistent Quality Gaps

• Only two-thirds of countries provide compulsory sexuality education at primary level.
• Gender bias in textbooks and curricula persists, reinforcing stereotypes.

Leadership Inequality

• Women dominate teaching professions, but only 30% of higher education leadership positions globally are held by women.
• Structural barriers exist in academic governance and decision-making.

Economic and Social Significance

• Education of girls is a societal investment: improves poverty reduction, labour participation, and inclusive economic growth.
• The World Bank (2024) estimates closing the global gender education gap could boost global GDP by $15–30 trillion.