Girls are more likely than boys to never go to school (UNESCO Institute for Statistics). According to UNICEF, every year, 12 million girls around the world are married as children, often leading to early pregnancy, putting their education and health at risk. “Gender stereotypes about the role of women as relegated to the family sphere underpin all obstacles to girls’ equal access to quality education. Girls are often socialised to assume domestic and care responsibilities, with the assumption that they will be economically dependent on men. The stereotype of men as breadwinners leads to the prioritisation of boys’ education.” “Several states have laws and policies that curtail girls’ equal enjoyment of the right to education. Even apparently gender-neutral laws and policies can – often owing to prevailing social norms – result in girls being left out of school… These include laws and policies that allow child marriage, permit discriminatory school admission criteria, such as excluding pregnant girls, and restrict girls’ freedom of movement.” “Girls are more likely to perform poorly at school and drop out when parents or guardians live in poverty and/or cannot afford to pay school expenses, such as school fees, textbooks, uniforms, transportation and lunches. This is compounded by gendered expectations related to domestic and care responsibilities, and parental biases towards boys’ education for them to have better career prospects.” This image illustrates the happiness to learn. The girls were wearing the happiest smile when gaining the knowledge and skills they needed for their development and independence. These girls are the victims of inequalities and discrimination throughout their course. “When schools are far from homes, such as in rural and remote areas, the likelihood of girls’ non-attendance increases. Girls are also particularly affected when their freedom of movement is restricted… Girls in remote and rural settings also tend to drop out of school more regularly than other girls owing to often exacerbated expectations relating to childcare, seasonal work or fetching firewood and water.” “Girls may be unwilling to attend school or discouraged from doing so by parents or guardians when schools do not provide water, safe and separate toilets/changing rooms nor take into account girls’ particular health needs. Their concentration and participation in class may also be negatively affected in those circumstances.” Publication Trend Privé Magazine - Photographer : Natalia Kovachevski https://trendprivemagazine.com/2019/01/28/natalia-kovachevskis-girls-education-story/