Set a world record for girls' education, April 9

Internationally, girls face a precarious situation in education. Over 70 million girls in the world have never attended school, which makes it no surprise that almost 600 million women in the world are illiterate. In developing countries, the education of girls has been proven to be the key factor in determining economic development, better health, and longer life expectancy.

Education is a human right, yet for twice as many girls as boys, it is not a reality.

On April 9, educators and community leaders in 180 countries will join forces for the world’s largest teach-in about girls’ education. The lesson will highlight the promises for girls that are within international agreements and the role of governments worldwide in making these promises a reality. Education International and the Global Campaign for Education have organized the teach-in on girls’ education to raise international awareness among every-day people and international leaders.

The international blueprint for universal education, the 2000 Dakar Framework for Action, established two primary goals to address the gender gap in education:

• By 2005, worldwide gender parity in school enrollment.
• By 2015, 100 percent worldwide enrollment of all children — girls and boys — in basic education.

In many developing countries, girls are entangled in the downward cycle of child labor and poverty. They must work to help support their families and, as a result, miss education, the route to economic stability. Further, inferior education quality, mandatory school fees, and the threat of gender violence keep girls from attending school.

Education International and development organizations established the Global Campaign for Education to build public pressure for universal, quality, free public education. Education International, of which NEA is a founding member, represents over 27 million educators in 316 national organizations in 160 countries and territories.

To learn more about the international campaign for girls’ education and to participate in the world’s largest teach-in, visit www.campaignforeducation.org.