Keeping girls in the picture

When a girl's education is cut short, the impact can be felt for generations. It leaves a vital gap in their community, their country and the world.

1.6 billion.

That’s the number of learners who were impacted by the COVID-19 school closures in more than 190 countries around the world. While school has resumed since, UNESCO estimated that some 24 million children and young people, including more than 11 million girls and young women were at risk of dropping out of school. This alarming number not only threatens decades of progress made towards gender equality, but also puts girls around the world at risk of adolescent pregnancy, early and forced marriage, and violence. For many girls, school is more than a window into a better future. It’s a lifeline.

Currently, 122 million girls are out of school. Join UNESCO in ensuring #LearningNeverStops so that every girl continues learning and returns to school. After reaching over 400 million people globally, the Keeping girls in the picture campaign has been rolled out in national contexts, reaching deep into communities through local advocacy, the mobilization of youth networks and community radios and capacity building.

We must take this opportunity to build back equal. And it starts NOW! How will you ensure #LearningNeverStops? Join us.

More about the campaign

UNESCO

Girls' education is our future

When a girl's education is cut short, the impact can be felt for generations. It leaves a vital gap in their community, their country and the world.

Just one more year of school can increase a girls' earnings, when she is an adult, by up to 20%
10% fewer girls under 17 would become pregnant in sub Saharan Africa and South Asia if they all had a primary education
Some countries lose more than US$ 1 billion a year by failing to educatte girls to the same level as boys

Girls' education is one of the most powerful investments we can make for our collective future. The ripple effect of positive change occurs when a girl gets an education is amazing. It strengthens economies, reduces inequality and creates more opportunities for everyone to succeed.

Join the campaign to ensure #LearningNeverStops

Everyone can play a role in supporting girls’ education – whether you’re a teacher, parent, student, journalist, policymaker, or simply a concerned citizen. Here’s how you can join the campaign to ensure #LearningNeverStops.

What can I do to help advance girls’ education?

Voices of girls from around the world

Listen to the voices of some of the millions of girls around the world who are struggling to keep learning.

How Halima is continuing her education in a refugee camp in Somalia

How Deepa from Nepal is ensuring that her #LearningNeverStops

A young woman in Kenya pursues her dream of becoming a nurse

An Afghan girl’s determination to ensure her right to education

Champions speak out for girls’ education

Advocates and champions for girls’ and women’s education have joined the campaign to ensure learning never stops for girls around the world.

More on COVID-19 and gender equality in education

Global Education Coalition members are working together to address the gender dimensions of the COVID-19 school crisis and safeguard progress made on gender equality in education in recent decades.

School closures due to COVID-19

Her education, our future:

UNESCO fast-tracking girls’ and women’s education