In addition to helping stop cycles of poverty and encourage economic growth, investing in girls' education improves children's and women's survival rates and health, delays child marriage and early pregnancies, empowers women both at home and at work, and helps combat climate change. There are a few goals that need to be met in order to ensure increasing statistics of girls education; a few of them are mentioned below.
A. Preventing early pregnancy and child marriage
15 million girls get married before they turn 18 every year. Families often force them into marriage in exchange for dowries - to alleviate poverty among the family. Due to the traditional roles, they are expected to play in the home, such as childbearing and cleaning, many girls who desire to continue their education are denied this right once they become married. Educating girls is a powerful tool for preventing child marriage and helping them fulfil their potential.
B. The prevention of female genital mutilation
Over 140 million girls have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM), a form of gender-based violence where parts or all of the external female genitalia are removed for no medical reason. An integral part of any FGM elimination strategy is education, which can play a key role in influencing individual and societal views.
C. Creating more stable communities
As a result of education, countries can recover from conflict faster once peace is achieved. In fact, inclusive, quality education can even prevent conflict from occurring in the first place by teaching students problem-solving, social skills, and critical thinking. Primary education is crucial for girls, but it's secondary education that can transform their lives. If secondary school completion rates were doubled, the risk of violent conflict would be halved in certain countries.
D. Taking action on climate change
Research also suggests that a country's vulnerability to natural disasters is decreased when girls are educated, as education can create more stable communities. The mitigation of carbon emissions and the combating of climate change can be achieved most effectively through education.
E. Economies should be strengthened
According to research in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, education has a significant impact on employment prospects. Across countries, 74% of those with the proposed education up to upper secondary are employed, compared to 56% of those without an upper secondary education.
F. Healthier lifestyles
Education for girls has wide-ranging and transformative health benefits, which can be passed on from generation to generation. By adding one year of school to a girl's education, infant mortality - the death of children under one year of age - decreases by 5 to ten per cent. The number of early births and child deaths would decrease by 59% and 49% of all girls received the twelve years of free, quality education.
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