Factsheet
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Investment in girls’ education yields some of the highest returns of all development investments, yielding both private and social benefits that accrue to individuals, families, and society at large:
- Reduces women’s fertility rates. Women with formal education are much more likely to use reliable family planning methods, delay marriage and childbearing, and have fewer and healthier babies than women with no formal education. It is estimated that one year of female schooling reduces fertility by 10 percent. The effect is particularly pronounced for secondary schooling.
- Lowers infant and child mortality rates. Women with some formal education are more likely to seek medical care, ensure their children are immunized, be better informed about their children's nutritional requirements, and adopt improved sanitation practices. As a result, their infants and children have higher survival rates and tend to be healthier and better nourished.
- Lowers maternal mortality rates.
Women with formal education tend to have better knowledge about health care practices, are less likely to become
pregnant at a very young age, tend to have fewer, better-spaced pregnancies,
and seek pre- and post-natal care. It is estimated that an additional year
of schooling for 1,000 women helps prevent two maternal deaths.
- Protects against HIV/AIDS infection. Girls’ education ranks among the
most powerful tools for reducing girls’ vulnerability. It slows and reduces
the spread of HIV/AIDS by contributing to female economic independence,
delayed marriage, family planning, and work outside the home as well as greater information about the disease and how to prevent it.
- Increases women’s labor force participation rates and earnings. Education has been proven to increase income for wage earners and increase productivity for employers, yielding benefits for the community and society.
- Creates intergenerational education benefits.
Mothers’ education is a significant variable affecting children’s education attainment and opportunities. A mother with a few years of formal education is considerably
more likely to send her children to school. In many countries each additional year of formal education completed by a mother translates into her children
remaining in school for an additional one-third to one-half year.
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