Quality Education of Girls : Key to Growth and Development. Welcome everyone to our strategic forum – prepare to be challenged, inspired and empowered by the information you will hear tonight Patricia Lamour, GEEDA New Zealand House, London 25th July 2015 patricia@aspireeducationgroup.com T: +44 (0)203 893 3037

Africa is young and rising “In terms of demographics, the African Continent is rapidly heading towards becoming the world’s largest and most youthful labour force. With almost 200 million young women and men aged between 15 and 24, Africa has the youngest population in the world….and will be 1 billion strong by 2040”. GEEDA submission to the EU Gender Action Plan for International Development, 2015

Quality Education of Girls – Key for Growth and Development Why is educating girls so important ? 2. What does quality education look llllllike for girls? 3. How much does it cost and how can lllllit be funded?

How much does it cost to fund the global education finance gap ? Malala Fund Report “Financing Upper-Secondary Education”

How much does it cost to fund the global education finance gap ?

How much does it cost to fund the global education finance gap ? #BooksNotBullets

How much does it cost to fund the global education finance gap ? The ‘lost’ money from Nigeria’s oil industry acknowledged in 2013. Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke ex Petroleum Minister for Nigeria and Chair of OPEC

Gender Inequality “Far too few women own land, businesses or are able to access credit, and women are still being raped, disfigured or killed as a result of domestic violence, FGM, refugee displacement or crimes of war.” Patricia Lamour, New African 2014 According to Pope Francis, the ‘idolatrous’ global economy is near collapse; it worships money and the profits of war, and allows the atrocity of youth unemployment. Gender cuts across all inequalities and results in the situation of women described above.

What does quality education look like for girls? Eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and guarantee equal opportunity and access in the sphere of education and training; Eliminate all stereotypes in textbooks, syllabuses and the media, that perpetuate such discrimination; Protect women, especially the girl-child from all forms of abuse, including sexual harassment in schools and other educational institutions and provide for sanctions against the perpetrators of such practices; Provide access to counselling and rehabilitation services to women who suffer abuses and sexual harassment; Integrate gender sensitisation and human rights education at all levels of education curricula including teacher training. Article 12 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol)

What does quality education look like for girls? Prepares girls for academic and economic success Address issues of gender based violence and sexual exploitation Empower girls and women to know and claim their rights Develops technical skills in girls where there are labour shortages or market opportunities Mentors girls to build their social and cultural capital and expand their horizons and leadership opportunities

Why is Educating Girls so Important? Globally, 31 million girls were not in school in 2011 and over half of them are never expected to go to school. Currently the maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa is at 500 per 100,000 births, which is almost two and a half times the world average and forty times more than in the UK. Women who are educated are less likely to become child brides, have fewer babies later, and increase the health and survival of their children. What is more, educated mothers are less likely to die in childbirth. Privatization in and of education in Africa and Girls’ Rights to Education, GEEDA Submission to CEDAW, 2014

Quality Education of Girls – Key for Growth and Development Walking the talk for women’s empowerment and gender equality is absolutely vital for Africa’s economic development, social justice and peace. The journey begins with celebrating the birth of a daughter as much as a son bringing her up to believe that she is as worthy as any boy listening to her and making her voice count investing in her future as a leader of tomorrow

Why is Educating girls key for Development? Girls who complete primary and secondary education are likely to earn income, have fewer unwanted pregnancies and break the cycle of poverty. Over the past three decades the ratio of girls to boys enrolled in school has risen at all levels. Still major gaps remain between girls and boys. Girl’s Education, World Bank (2014) Educating girls = saving hundreds of thousands of mothers dying giving birth The #1 cause of death for girls 15-19 is childbirth (WHO) Educating girls = saving millions of infants’ and young children’s lives A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of 5. Educating girls = fewer child/forced early marriages 14 million girls under 18 will be married this year (UNFPA) Educating girls = better childhood nutrition Educating girls = boosting wages and narrowing the gender pay gap

www.SheLeadsAfrica.org Yasmin Belo-Osagie Afua Osei