The Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) addressed the state of education in the world today, particularly the education of girls and women.  The delegates acknowledged that educating girls and women, which has often been neglected, would have a number of beneficial effects for society.  They agreed that the full development of one's dignity and potential is a human right, for women as well as for men.



In the world today, approximately 130 million children are uneducated; 91 million, or 70 per cent, of these children are female.  Girls generally either quit school earlier than boys, are married at a young age, or have to quit to work for their families' survival, and many become pregnant and are forced to leave school.  Girls' education is sometimes considered superfluous by their societies, which view women chiefly as wives and mothers.  In these circumstances, there is little or no provision made for schooling them.  There is also a gender gap when it comes to secondary and higher education --girls and women are much less likely to be encouraged, or sometimes even allowed, to participate.

Research has shown that educating girls and women is a powerful ally in the eradication of poverty.  Educated women are also better able to care for their own health and that of their family.  These two factors, in particular, make education crucial to realizing the dreams of sustainable development.

Education and employment will also enable women to demand and exercise their fundamental rights, including the right to health and reproductive choice.  Educated women marry later, have their first children later, and have fewer children overall than their illiterate sisters.

An educated citizenry naturally bolsters democracy and political freedom.  people choices will have on the future of their society and their world, and this knowledge will allow them to choose wisely.




Some of the goals have to do with the importance of changing attitudes.  Governments are to take the lead in persuading parents of the value of educating girls, for example.   Teachers are to be trained to be more sensitive to the problem of gender discrimination.  Governments must make a concerted effort to increase public knowledge of, and commitment to, the Programme of Action.  Social change will be absolutely vital to its success.

Some goals have to do with improving access to schooling.  Girls, including pregnant girls, should be kept in school.  More community schools must be built in undeserved areas.  Scholarships need to be made available to poor children, girls especially.   Governments are also urged to ensure girls' and women's access to secondary and higher levels of education.  Another gap between females and males in schooling has traditionally been in vocational and technical training, and countries are encouraged to make this training available to girls and women.

Specifically, the Programme of Action calls for closing the gender gap in primary education by the year 2005.  Primary education for all children should be available by 2015.  Nations are also urged to pay close attention to the quality and relevance of their children's education.

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