West and Central Africa (WCA) is the region of the world with the largest percentage of young people and the highest gender disparity in education. A number of factors are responsible for the persistent gender disparities in education. Among them, early and unintended pregnancy, which is often linked to child marriage, poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) including HIV infection, and school-related gender-based violence (GBV) have a marked impact on the education and future prospects of young people. Few young people in the region receive adequate preparation for their sexual lives. Fortunately education itself can be harnessed to give young people the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their SRH, and to develop attitudes and values which support human rights and gender equality.