Gender Inequality in Education

To many it is perhaps an astonishing fact that two thirds of illiterate people in developing nations are female. That’s why Plan International UK is focused on supporting girls and their communities to end the gender inequality in education, in the countries we work in.

So, what are the causes of illiteracy?

‘Inherited illiteracy’ is the legacy of parents who do not possess basic reading and writing skills. Subsequent generations continue to posses low aspirations and therefore lack the opportunities for education in part because of their inherited beliefs.

These beliefs are perpetuated by established cultural attitudes, particularly in terms of gender inequality in education and other areas. Plan International UK aims to break this cycle to enable girls as well as boys to become empowered through education.

How does illiteracy impact individuals and communities?

The effects of illiteracy are broad-ranging and include: social exclusion, precarious work and employability challenges, poverty, poor nutrition, hygiene and health, limited awareness of rights and duties, and low aspiration, autonomy and self-esteem.

In contrast, the impact of improved literacy is far-reaching. For example, studies have shown that child mortality rates were lower in families where the mother had participated in literacy programmes. It was lower still in families whose mothers were primary school graduates.

Furthermore, there are estimates that child mortality decreases by 9 per cent for every additional year of schooling attained by the mother. So gender inequality in education can be a matter of life or death.

Improved literacy and access to education is felt on a personal, societal and in a wider economic context. Attitudes of inequality are inherited from previous generations and it is this inequality that Plan International UK seeks to counter through enabling the education of tomorrow’s women.

What can be done to improve the situation? 

Knowledge is empowering, and knowledge is attained through education, which is accessed through acquiring basic skills in reading and writing. Plan International UK seeks to raise awareness of this need on World Literacy Day (Tuesday 8 September, 2015).