Education and gender equality

Gender equality and education

From access to empowerment

Gender equality is a global priority at UNESCO. While much progress has been made, large gender gaps still exist in education in many settings, most often at the expense of girls, although in some regions boys are at a disadvantage. Globally, 118.5 million girls and 125.5 million boys are out of school. Women still account for almost two-thirds of all adults unable to read.

UNESCO calls for attention to gender equality throughout the education system in relation to access, content, teaching and learning context and practices, learning outcomes, and life and work opportunities. Guided by the UNESCO Strategy for gender equality in and through education (2019-2025) and the Gender Equality Action Plan, this work focuses on a system-wide transformation to benefit all learners equally in three key areas: better data to inform action, better legal and policy frameworks to advance rights and better teaching and learning practices to empower. 

Schoolgirls Education
Leave no one behind: gender equality in transforming education summit national commitments
2023
UNESCO
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UNESCO guidance on communicating on gender equality in and through education
UNESCO
2022
UNESCO
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#HerEducationOurFuture: innovation and technology for gender equality; the latest facts on gender equality in education
2023
UNESCO
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Global education monitoring report 2022: gender report, deepening the debate on those still left behind
UNESCO
2022
UNESCO
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UNESCO’s efforts to achieve gender equality in and through education, 2021 highlights
UNESCO
2022
UNESCO
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When schools shut: gendered impacts of COVID-19 school closures
UNESCO
2021
Supported with funding from the Global Partnership for Education
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From access to empowerment: UNESCO strategy for gender equality in and through education 2019-2025
UNESCO
2019
UNESCO
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GEM report logo wheel

Monitoring SDG 4: equity and inclusion in education

Resources from UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report.