Fact of the week

1 in 3: About 1 in 3 of countries achieved gender parity in secondary education by 2005

Millennium Development Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women 

Target: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015 

UNICEF advocates quality basic education for all, with an emphasis on gender equality and eliminating disparities of all kinds. In particular, getting girls into school and ensuring that they stay and learn has what UNICEF calls a "multiplier effect." 

About one third of countries achieved gender parity in secondary education by 2005. At the secondary level of education, gender gaps are greatest in West and Central Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the last region, this gap is to the disadvantage of boys.

Source: UNICEF global databases, 2008.

Reference: http://www.childinfo.org/education_gender.html