Empowering tomorrow: why millions of girls are denied education and how we can fix it

By: Miley Lee | Advocate & Writer

In today’s global landscape, education stands as a pivotal tool for unlocking opportunities and breaking the cycle of poverty, yet the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024 highlights a mere 1% decrease in the out-of-school population over a decade.

For many underprivileged girls, however, access to quality education and necessary resources remains a distant reality. This disparity not only impacts their personal growth and development but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality. Education, a fundamental human right, holds the potential to reverse the trend of burgeoning poverty and offer equal opportunities to the younger generation, thereby reshaping the world.

The Root of the Issue

In numerous developing countries and marginalized communities globally, schools often struggle with underfunding, understaffing, and a lack of basic educational resources. Shockingly, 5% of children under 5 years old still lack access to pre-primary education, leading to overcrowded classrooms, inadequate teacher support, and a substandard learning environment. Teachers frequently lack the capacity to specialize in teaching challenging materials or provide necessary support to certain students, heightening the risk of educational failure. Factors like parental unemployment, illness, and illiteracy amplify the risks of non-schooling and child dropouts, often compelling children to financially support their families from a young age, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty and limiting their future potential.

Impact on Girls

Deprived of quality education, many girls face academic struggles, lower self-esteem, restricted career prospects, and in extreme cases, illiteracy, which significantly limits their opportunities for a brighter future. The Global Partnership for Education reports that a mere 20% of educational aid reaches low-income countries, with a notable 54% of out-of-school children comprising girls. Consequently, many girls are relegated to roles as housewives or minimum-wage workers in factories, reflecting broader economic and social development challenges. The lack of educational support further contributes to heightened dropout rates, lower graduation rates, and a continued likelihood of perpetuating the cycle of poverty for successive generations.

Making an Impact: Sakena Yacoobi

Sakena Yacoobi was born in Herat, Afghanistan, and pursued her education both in Afghanistan and the United States. Her father respected her wishes to continue studying even when child marriage was coming in Adghanistan at that time. She met an American family who was visiting Afghanistan and took the opportunity that arose, for them to take Sakena to the United States to study. She travelled there and went on to obtain a doctorate in public health from the Loma Linda University in California in 1977. She decided to go back to Afghanistan in 1990, and help those, especially girls and women, gain access to healthcare and education. She opens a school for girls and a year later, there are 3000 girls attending. When the Taliban banned girls from going to school, she persisted and set up secret schools for girls. As time passes, death threats are made and the facilities are often shut down but then opened again in secret. She believes that “Children are the future of Afghanistan.” Her goal is for every girl to be allowed to go to school and learn to read and her empowering story inspires us all to fight for these rights.

Bridging the Gap

Individual actions can make a substantial impact in addressing these disparities. Supporting NGOs like UNESCO and Humanium, which collaborate directly with underprivileged communities, can facilitate access to vital resources such as tutoring, scholarships, teachers, funding, and vocational training programs. Community engagement is also pivotal, with local communities playing a key role in supporting underprivileged girls through initiatives like after-school activities, mentorship programs, and fundraisers, fostering enduring positive change.

Our Collective Impact

Ensuring equal access to quality education for all children, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds and gender, is imperative for fostering a more equitable and inclusive society. In 2015, a staggering 251 million children and youth were still out of school worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for decreased disparities and increased educational funding. By addressing the educational challenges faced by underprivileged girls and providing them with essential resources and support, we can empower this generation, break the cycle of poverty, and make meaningful contributions to communities and society at large. Let us unite in creating a brighter future for today’s generation, commencing with equitable access to education.

Thank you for reading! This article is a part of SEVA Charity, an organization striving to raise awareness regarding important issues of today. Contact us at sevahongkong@gmail.com if you wish to write as well! Check us out here: https://www.instagram.com/sevahongkong/