Girls Vs. Education

According to Ngozi Okonjo Iweala of the Wold Bank, “investing in girls and women is not just a question of fairness and justice, it’s plain smart economics”. Her comments, on the heals of similar comments by Melinda Gates, come right after a session of the Global Education Initiative discussing progress made by a “smart” coalition of governments (Jordan, Egypt, Rwanda, Vietnam, India), businesses, and a number of NGOs to roll out technology-driven innovations that are increasing school access and curriculum quality and relevance around the world.

Results of a WEF poll show that the majority places education as a top priority but few believe enough is being done. Progress has been made, but tens of millions of children (mostly girls) remain unschooled. We must realise that it’s not just a question of just increasing budgets (mostly government budgets), but bringing different players together (including corporations) to find smart solutions. There is a need to incorporate entrepreneurship education in the curriculum so that education can turn into opportunities, jobs and livelihoods.

Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu remembers how, as a little girl, she was discouraged by her mother to be (or at least seem) smart of fear of never getting married. This is not uncommon in many developing countries, where a woman’s status is tied to her ability to marry well. Her father however encouraged her to study (a path to personal independence) and she went on to becoming the first Indonesian woman to earn a PhD in economics and then first female Chinese-minority cabinet member. She’s working hard to offer opportunities to all girls, but is worried that perverse incentives among the poor make girl schooling a low priority when things get tough.

There is no gainsaying that education is the core engine of development. And, educating women has even greater multiplier effects through inclusion in the economy and through the education of new generations of children.