Benefits of Girls’ Education

To access other websites with information, publications and studies on girls' education, please click here: Girls' Education Links.

Why is this important?

Not only does education benefit the person learning, but also the community in which they live.  Education contributes to the economic stability of any given nation by increasing the income of the poor.  Research has shown that no country has sustained consistent economic growth without a significant nation-wide literacy rate.  In addition to economic stability, education promotes civil and international peace, as well as cultural tolerance and understanding.

The benefits of girls' education include:

However, 60% of the 113 million illiterate children in the world are female. Three-quarters of the children not in school are girls, leaving 25% of the world's girls not in school. The more schooling a girl receives as a child, the fewer number of children she will have later on in life.  Her family's health will increase, as will the survival rate of her children and herself.  She is also more likely to get a job and earn a higher wage if she has a basic education.

So why is SAGE involved?  SAGE seeks to create awareness of the importance of girls' education and the issues surrounding their education in target countries.  With the help of SAGE, public and private sector institutions, leaders in all areas of life, including the religious, business and political sectors are used in promoting girls' education.  SAGE recruits local communities' support to identify and overcome barriers for girls' schooling.  In addition, knowledge about approaches to girls' education is improved through SAGE activities to better implement related policies, strategies, and programs.  Through all these means, girls may receive an education, achieve equity, and help their nations develop.

Girl with flag
Art by Nada Bouhabib
With education, girls can reach higher goals

The benefits of girls' education are discussed in the following article in the newsletter "News & Views" of the International Food Policy Research Institute's (IFPRI) 2020 Vision initiative. The Fruits of Girls’ Education, December 1999.


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