Even though we are in the 21st century, education is still not equal for everyone. Despite the difference in education systems around the world our main problem is the gender inequality in education. Which results in men being the priority of education. Men are more likely to be literate on a global average, although higher literacy scores for women are prevalent in many countries. Men and women find themselves having gender differences when attaining their educational goals. Although men and women can have the same level of education, it is more difficult for women to have higher management jobs, and future employment and financial worries can intensify. Men tended to receive more education than women in the past, this gender gap has decreased but in some countries it still remains.
The most common explanations for this gender gap are poverty, geographic remoteness, violence, disabilities, lack of infrastructure, or belonging to a minority ethno-linguistic group. The data ranges in different regions with the highest rates of gender inequality in education in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. We also see an increase in the out-of-school rates for females as the schooling progresses.
Geographic remoteness can affect the eligibility of a child being able to receive an education or not. Children who live in a rural area have less access to education caused by the lack of transportation and schools. Gender based violence is a main component in the gender gap in education. It can have a physical and emotional impact on victims. Gender based violence is one of the main reasons for dropouts
Investing in secondary education is essential for equipping adolescent boys and girls with the knowledge and skills needed to become productive and engaged citizens. Advancing girls’ secondary education is one of the most transformative development plans countries can invest in. Completion of secondary education brings substantial benefits to girls and societies which includes, increased lifetime earnings to reductions in adolescent childbearing, child marriage, and maternal and child mortality. Gender equality is crucial for ending poverty and boosting a nation’s economy. Better educated women tend to participate more in the formal labor market. This results in them earning higher incomes which leads to uplifting households, communities, and, ultimately, nations out of poverty.