Educating Women and Children A Moral Imperative Prepared for Women Leaders for the World July 29, 2006

Investment in children’s and women’s education provides returns for generations

“My mother speaks to me fondly of school days and how much she wished she could have stayed longer,” notes one of the 2,000 students in South Darfur. “My mother speaks to me fondly of school days and how much she wished she could have stayed longer,” notes one of the 2,000 students in South Darfur. HOPE

Facts about Basic Education in Developing Countries 121m children out of school worldwide; 53% are girls 121m children out of school worldwide; 53% are girls 59% of children in sub-Saharan Africa are in primary school; over 1/3 drop out before 5th grade 59% of children in sub-Saharan Africa are in primary school; over 1/3 drop out before 5th grade 40m primary-school-age children are not in school in sub- Saharan Africa, or 39% of all primary-age school children 40m primary-school-age children are not in school in sub- Saharan Africa, or 39% of all primary-age school children 250m children are involved in part- or full-time work, many in exploitative situations 250m children are involved in part- or full-time work, many in exploitative situations More than 113m children never go to school More than 113m children never go to school Source: UNICEF, UN Population Fund

Education Helps reduce poverty and inequality Improves living standard – health Enables the use of technologies Promotes sustainability Builds tolerance and understanding

Approaches Educating women and children is not an option; it is a necessity. Hence we must: Address the barriers that prevent them from attending and completing school Address the barriers that prevent them from attending and completing school Reduce the burden of household chores on girls Reduce the burden of household chores on girls Provide learning materials for schools to function effectively Provide learning materials for schools to function effectively

Approaches - (Cont’d) Develop policies and strategies aimed at changing the education system to improve participation of girls Develop policies and strategies aimed at changing the education system to improve participation of girls Eliminate school fees Eliminate school fees Advocate for parents and communities to give priority to educating their girls as well as boys Advocate for parents and communities to give priority to educating their girls as well as boys Establish standards that improve the quality of education for all children Establish standards that improve the quality of education for all children

Approaches - (Cont’d) Invest in interventions that have proved to be successful at the local level. What Works? What Doesn’t Work? Invest in interventions that have proved to be successful at the local level. What Works? What Doesn’t Work? Develop strong partnerships between governments, businesses, and schools Develop strong partnerships between governments, businesses, and schools Develop a package approach toward improving the quality of education. Training teachers & improving the curriculum & improving sanitation around the school site Develop a package approach toward improving the quality of education. Training teachers & improving the curriculum & improving sanitation around the school site

Approaches - (Cont’d) Public awareness campaign - girl’s education is still undervalued in many communities Public awareness campaign - girl’s education is still undervalued in many communities Increase female teachers – role models Increase female teachers – role models Adequate school facilities – Safe for girls Adequate school facilities – Safe for girls Increase the political representation of women in governments. As of Nov. 2005, only percent of legislative seats worldwide were held by women. Increase the political representation of women in governments. As of Nov. 2005, only percent of legislative seats worldwide were held by women.

Approaches - (Cont’d) Approaches - (Cont’d) Governments enact legislative measures to prohibit girls from withdrawing from school. Nigeria has imposed such a law and it appears to be working. Governments enact legislative measures to prohibit girls from withdrawing from school. Nigeria has imposed such a law and it appears to be working. Provide scholarships to girls. Zambia has begun to provide scholarships to girls. Provide scholarships to girls. Zambia has begun to provide scholarships to girls.

Approaches - (Cont’d) Provide vocational and professional training for women Provide vocational and professional training for women Examples: the Czech Republic, India, Myanmar, Nigeria, Portugal, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda do provide opportunities for vocational and professional training for girls.

Approaches- (Cont’d) Develop affirmative action programs to encourage female students to take up science and technology and other non- traditional subjects Develop affirmative action programs to encourage female students to take up science and technology and other non- traditional subjects Example: Austria, Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Portugal and Zambia Example: Austria, Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Portugal and Zambia

Progress Since the end of the Taliban, 1 million Afghan girls have started school. Since the end of the Taliban, 1 million Afghan girls have started school. Women in remote villages of Africa are attending primary school with their children. Women in remote villages of Africa are attending primary school with their children. Several leading women’s organizations are providing the necessary funding to help women start their own business. Several leading women’s organizations are providing the necessary funding to help women start their own business. The abolition of school fees in Kenya in January 2003, for example, brought 1.3 million children to school in a single year. The abolition of school fees in Kenya in January 2003, for example, brought 1.3 million children to school in a single year. Source: UNICEF

Thank you! Contact Information Almaz Negash, Director Global Leadership and Ethics Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Santa Clara University Tel: 1 (408)