UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024-25
The UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024-25 marks ongoing gender disparities in educational outcomes and leadership roles worldwide. Despite improvements in enrolment rates, gaps persist in learning achievements and the representation of women in top educational positions. The report reveals that boys are falling behind girls in reading proficiency globally. In middle-income countries, the disparity is even more pronounced.
Global Gender Disparity in Learning Outcomes
The report indicates that for every 100 girls achieving minimum reading proficiency, only 87 boys do. In middle-income nations, this figure drops to 72 boys per 100 girls. This gap is alarming and indicates systemic issues in learning environments, particularly in literacy.
Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Parity
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted progress towards gender parity in mathematics. Recent data shows that girls’ performance in math has declined in countries like Brazil, England, and Italy. This reversal raises concerns about the long-term impacts of the pandemic on educational equity.
Women in Educational Leadership
In India, women constitute portion of the teaching workforce, making up 60% of elementary teachers. However, their representation in leadership roles is starkly low. As of 2022, only 13% of vice-chancellors in central universities were women. This under-representation reflects deep-rooted gender biases in educational leadership.
Challenges in Leadership Training
Many state of Indias lack formal training for school principals, despite the National Education Policy 2020 advocating for professional development. This gap in leadership training contributes to the ongoing inequities in educational outcomes.
Correlation Between Female Leadership and Learning Outcomes
Research indicates that schools led by women often achieve better learning outcomes. In some African nations, female-led schools showed an additional year of learning gain compared to those led by men. This suggests that increasing female leadership could enhance educational performance.
The Role of Decentralised Leadership
Decentralised leadership models, such as the pilot programme in Delhi, have proven effective in building trust among teachers. Effective mentorship and distributed leadership can lead to improved educational environments and outcomes.
Global Trends
The report marks positive trends, such as the rising female teaching workforce and commitments made through the National Education Policy 2020. However, it also points out the need for improved learning metrics and accountability in leadership roles.
Ongoing Learning Crisis
Despite high enrolment rates, many students struggle with foundational skills. For instance, only 25% of Class 8 students in India demonstrated proficiency in mathematics in the National Achievement Survey 2021. This indicates a learning crisis that persists despite increased access to education.
Future Directions
The report calls for strengthening leadership pipelines by institutionalising mandatory leadership training for principals. It also advocates for targeted programmes to promote women in senior educational roles and improved metrics to measure learning outcomes effectively.
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