Celebrating Progress, Remaining Steadfast and Asking What’s Next for Girls’ Education

Over the past two decades there have been major improvements in girls’ education. In 1990, less than 50 percent of girls in low-income countries were enrolled in primary school; today that figure has climbed to nearly 80 percent. However, much work remains to be done. Thirty million girls still miss out on basic education, and the challenge for those that now attend school is that they learn while there. Indeed, 250 million children cannot read or write, even after many of them have spent four years in school. Furthermore, the attacks on girls’ schools in Nigeria and elsewhere highlights that school safety must also be a priority moving forward. Addressing these “second generation” issues will require a continued focus on providing girls with accessible, quality and safe education.

On June 17, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings hosted a discussion on the way forward for girls’ education. U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine M. Russell delivered a keynote address, and two panels explored successful approaches for improving girls’ education and profiled leaders who have championed the value and importance of girls in some of the most difficult environments.

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