This weekend (Sunday 24 January, 2021) marks a very important day on the global calendar, the third annual International Day of Education. A day dedicated to education around the world and a day to celebrate the important role of education in creating positive social, cultural and sustainable change around the globe.
And, while many of us have had the privilege of access to a quality education throughout our life, sadly, this is not the truth for many around the world. In fact, did you know that about 265 million children and adolescents around the world do not have the opportunity to enter or complete school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school?*
Also, at this moment, nearly 130 million girls are out of school. Even more are in school but not learning, and sadly approximately 20 million more secondary school-aged girls could be out of school after the COVID-19 crisis has passed.
