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Achieving Gender Equality in Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress and Challenges in Moving from the MDGs to the SDGs

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Women and Sustainable Human Development

Part of the book series: Gender, Development and Social Change ((GDSC))

Abstract

Achieving gender equality in education is an important goal for a development agenda. Despite major progress, notably with regard to basic education, equal access to education, for all and at all levels, remains a huge challenge facing sub-Saharan African countries. Based on a systematic review, this chapter examines the current state of knowledge regarding gender inequalities in education in the region since the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The review shows how achieving parity is challenging for countries because the schooling gap between boys and girls results from broader gender inequalities in the family and the communities at school and in society. The chapter argues the need to consider and implement important transformative actions for gender equality at large to achieve inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

The views expressed in this chapter are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the United Nations.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    http://uis.unesco.org/apps/visualisations/no-girl-left-behind.

  2. 2.

    http://uis.unesco.org/en/topic/education-africa.

  3. 3.

    UNICEF global databases, 2017, based on DHS, MICS and other nationally representative surveys.

  4. 4.

    Data source: World Bank Group. Gender data portal.

  5. 5.

    UNICEF global databases, 2017, based on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and other nationally representative surveys.

  6. 6.

    https://www.unfpa.org/resources/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-frequently-asked-questions#where_practiced.

  7. 7.

    Data on the percentage of women who experienced FGMs provided by ICF International, 2015. The DHS Program STAT compiler. Funded by USAID. https://www.statcompiler.com.

  8. 8.

    IUS statistics.

  9. 9.

    World Bank database.

  10. 10.

    http://blogs.worldbank.org/education/impact-ebola-education-sierra-leone.

  11. 11.

    http://www.unfpa.org/news/one-year-after-ebolas-end-sierra-leones-midwives-help-mend-health-system?page=8#.

  12. 12.

    http://www.unfpa.org/news/one-year-after-ebolas-end-sierra-leones-midwives-help-mend-health-system?page=8#.

  13. 13.

    http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet.

  14. 14.

    The government expenditure on education, total (per cent of government expenditure) is equivalent to 13.96 per cent, 12.09 per cent and 13.29 per cent for South Asia, Europe and Central Asia, North America, respectively, according to the data from the World Development Indicators.

  15. 15.

    https://gemreportunesco.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/what-is-at-stake-at-the-gpe-financing-conference/.

  16. 16.

    www.fawe.org.

  17. 17.

    Other existing tools: UNESCO resource pack for gender-responsible STEM Education; United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative’s background paper on the evidence around gender-responsive teaching practices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. United Nations, New York City, NY, USA

    Sandrine A. Koissy-Kpein

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  1. Sandrine A. Koissy-Kpein
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. United Nations University (UNU-MERIT), Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Maty Konte  & Nyasha Tirivayi  & 

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Koissy-Kpein, S.A. (2020). Achieving Gender Equality in Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress and Challenges in Moving from the MDGs to the SDGs. In: Konte, M., Tirivayi, N. (eds) Women and Sustainable Human Development. Gender, Development and Social Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14935-2_9

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