Gender equality in education is important because it levels the playing field. When girls are given the same opportunities and social support as boys, they can rise to the challenge.
The real game changer is the impact on low-achieving students. In countries with low gender equality, the people who benefit most from improvements in gender equality are girls in the bottom quartile – those who are already struggling. Investing in gender-equal education can help lift up those who need it most and close achievement gaps at all levels.
Africa has a wide variety of educational systems, cultures, and levels of development. While some countries, such as Botswana and Mauritius, have made great strides in gender equality and education, others still have a long way to go.
In countries with high gender inequality, boys tend to outperform girls in most subjects. However, even in these regions, disparities are narrowing as gender equality improves.
Globally, girls are outpacing boys in years spent in school, especially in high-income countries. However, in Africa, girls remain underrepresented in the classroom, especially in higher education. Although girls‘ primary school enrollment rates are improving across the continent, keeping girls in school and ensuring they perform at the same level as boys remains a challenge.
