The UK government has announced plans to help 175,000 of the poorest, most marginalised girls in the world to get a quality education and become girls in education.
During the Girls’ Education Forum 2016, International Development Secretary, Justine Greening announced that the UK would provide £100 million in funding through the Girls’ Education Challenge to help girls who have dropped out or never attended school.
Many girls have never attended school or are forced to leave due to family crises, poverty, child marriage or early pregnancy. The funding will also be used to continue Girls’ Education Challenge’s support for one million disadvantaged girls across the developing world.
Speaking about the announcement, Justine Greening said, “Education doesn’t just shape individuals, it shapes countries – but right now too many young girls are deprived of an education simply because of their gender. Today’s event is about putting a spotlight on that, and focusing on what education can do to unlock prospects for girls around the world.”
“The UK is leading the fight for gender equality and has already helped 5.3 million girls in developing countries receive a quality education. I am proud that the UK will now be helping a further 175,000 of the most vulnerable and marginalised girls in the world to get the education they need to have a choice and control over their futures.”
Julia Gillard, Board Chair of the Global Partnership for Education said, “Investing girls and women isn’t just morally right: it is essential for the development of families, communities and countries.”
“When we educate girls, we see reduced child deaths, healthier children and mothers, fewer child marriages and faster economic growth.”
The Girls’ Education Challenge was launched in 2012 and will disburse £300 million to 37 projects across 18 countries. The organisation will help up to a million of the world’s poorest girls to improve their lives through education.