Global Education Report 2025
30.10.2025
- Global Education Report 2025
Context
The 2025 UNESCO Global Education Report reveals that 133 million girls remain out of school worldwide, even three decades after the Beijing Declaration (1995), highlighting persistent gender and leadership gaps despite significant gains in enrolment.
Global Snapshot and Trends
- Enrolment Gains:
Since 1995, there are 91 million more girls in primary school and 136 million more in secondary education globally, underscoring major progress, especially in Central and South Asia. - Regional Parity:
Central and South Asia have achieved gender parity in secondary education, but Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania lag due to poverty, rural isolation, and conflict. - Persistent Gaps:
In countries like Mali and Guinea, under 20% of girls complete lower secondary education. Only two-thirds of countries provide compulsory sexuality education at the primary level, and gender bias persists in curricula.
Leadership and Quality Barriers
- School Leadership:
Women form a majority of teaching staff, but globally only 30% of higher education leaders and 35% of school principals are women, reflecting deep-seated barriers in academic governance. - Leadership Training Deficit:
Many countries, including India, have non-standardised recruitment and little formal training for principals, undermining effective academic and inclusive leadership. - Learning Outcomes:
Despite rising enrolment, foundational skills lag behind. In India, for example, only 25% of Class 8 students are proficient in mathematics, indicating a global learning crisis. - Benefits of Gender-Inclusive Leadership:
Female-led schools in some nations show better learning outcomes; reservations for women in rural Indian councils reduced gender gaps in parental aspirations and education.
Economic and Social Implications
- Impact of Education:
UNESCO stresses that educating girls is a high-return investment, closely linked to poverty reduction, labour participation, and inclusive growth. According to the World Bank (2024), closing the gender gap in education could boost global GDP by $15–30 trillion. - Policy Relevance:
The report aligns with SDG 4 (quality education), emphasizing the importance of integrative international commitments and policy reforms in India and beyond.
Conclusion
While the world has seen remarkable gains in girls’ education since 1995, the UNESCO report highlights persistent issues with quality, leadership, and inclusivity. Empowering women in school governance and bridging rural, social, and curricular gaps are essential to fulfil the Beijing and SDG 4 education goals.