Why Educating Girls Is Not Just About Gender Equality

At the latest edition of Cloud Talk, four experts shared insights on improving access to education for girls and women, and the wider economic and social benefits of doing so

Girls and women make up nearly half of the world’s total population—but they also make up more than two-thirds of the global illiterate population. On the country level, the more girls aren’t able to attend or finish school, the more challenging a nation faces in pulling its people out of poverty and ensuring its own economic and social stability.

The gender gap in education is also a complex issue that, ironically, doesn’t discriminate in where it impacts—in Asia, it affects both developing and developed nations, from Cambodia to Hong Kong.

What is causing this gender divide? How can learning environments better serve the needs of both girls and boys? What challenges are governments, NGOs and philanthropists facing in creating sustainable impact in this area—and how can they be addressed?

Four speakers shared insights on these questions and more at the latest edition of Cloud Talk, which was organised in partnership with Education for Women Now by Aide et Action International. Here are some highlights from the discussion.

Above At the January 21 edition of Cloud Talk, four experts from the education, social impact and philanthropy sectors discuss the transformative power of education and bringing learning environments to more girls and women across Asia

The economic benefits of educating girls

Education may be widely considered a human right, but oftentimes knowing its wider economic benefits inspires greater action.

According to Savy Lach, deputy CEO and director of South East Asia and China at Aide et Action International, studies have shown that “for every one percentage point increase in girls’ education, average gross domestic product (GDP) rises by 0.3 percent”. This, in turn, results in a 0.2 percent growth in GDP annually.

Fighting the patriarchy

Many of the barriers perpetuating the gender gap in education are the results of widespread poverty and the patriarchal ways of a community or nation.

“We need to ensure that there’s actually a way for girls to get to school [safely], that rural roads are weather-resistant, and that they have their basic needs met, like having clean drinking water, toilets and things like that,” said Dee Dee Chan, who is director of her family’s philanthropic foundation Seal of Love, where she has overseen impact-driven investments in the education and healthcare sectors.

“Girls are [often] not told that they have the same value as a boy in a family. [Instead], they're always going to be the default person to take care of domestic duties. And if there's only one child that the family can afford to send to school, [it] is not going to be the girl.”

For every one percentage point increase in girls’ education, average gross domestic product (GDP) rises by 0.3 percent

- Savy Lach -

Photo 1 of 4 This edition's speakers included Savy Lach, deputy CEO and regional director, South East Asia and China, Aide et Action

Photo 2 of 4 Dee Dee Chan, managing director and CIO, Park Lane Capital Holdings

Photo 3 of 4 Joanna Hotung, board member, The Women's Foundation and founder and CEO, KG Group

Photo 4 of 4 Arina Bzhinaev, international philanthropy manager, Aide et Action

Making girls feel safe in and outside of the classroom

“A key issue that is [still] not being addressed well is gender-related violence,” said Lach. “Girls will not be able to focus on learning if they do not feel safe in the classroom or if they are worried about whether they will be able to get back home safe after they leave the classroom.” Without an environment where they feel psychologically safe to thrive, girls often end up dropping out of school and forgoing their ambitions.

Changing the way we deliver education

In certain instances, improving access to education isn’t just about boosting school enrollments among less privileged children. It’s also about ensuring that what is taught in classrooms serves a current need and nurtures a natural tendency.

“In Hong Kong, we have the benefits of outstanding education technically and academically, but is it being delivered in a way that’s truly useful to our girls?” said Joanna Hotung, a board member of The Women’s Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of girls and women in Hong Kong.

“If you come from a disadvantaged family, you may have never heard of some of the things you can study. Research also shows that girls tend to choose areas that are more nurturing and community-oriented. If you're from a family that is ignorant of some of these issues, it's easy for girls to become stuck and disengaged from the [education] system.”

Combining foreign aid with local support

“One of the things that philanthropists and foundations need to do from the get-go is to empower and build teams [made up] of local [people],” said Chan. “It's really the people on the ground who truly understand the complexities of everything that’s going on, and how to navigate the nuances and still get positive outcomes.”

Watch past editions of Cloud Talk or see other events.

Topics

gender education asia economy