Inclusive construction keeps girls in school and learning
UNICEF works towards gender equity by tackling critical barriers to girls’ education.
Globally, 129 million girls are out of school. Only 49 per cent of countries have achieved gender equity in primary education. At the secondary education level, the gap widens to 42 per cent in lower secondary and only 24 per cent in upper secondary. This means that in large parts of the world, girls are not given the chance to contribute fully to positive development of their own lives, and the development of their communities and societies at large.
The COVID-19 pandemic further threatened hard-won gains. It is estimated that over 11 million girls may never go back to school after the pandemic.
UNICEF’s construction projects for education aim to ensure that girls can access school and complete their primary and secondary years of learning.
Key barriers to girls’ education include poverty and long distances to school. Also design and physical aspects of schools are important; many schools do not meet the safety, hygiene or sanitation needs of girls to feel safe, dignified and ready to learn in their school environment. This can contribute to school absenteeism, drop out, child marriage and other negative consequences.
UNICEF’s construction projects aim to reduce the key barriers to girls’ education through building gender-sensitive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, creating safe learning environments and reducing school travel distances. The construction of schools that support girls’ education contributes towards achieving SDG Goal 4 – inclusive and equitable quality education for all, and Goal 5 – gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
Building gender-sensitive bathrooms in Syria
For many girls around the world, getting their period means putting their learning on hold. In some places, menstruation is a source of stigma, stress and embarrassment. The lack of menstrual hygiene facilities in schools is a significant reason why many girls skip school while on their period. Some girls miss up to a week of school every month and start to fall behind. Many will eventually drop out of school altogether.
In countries affected by conflict, girls are more than twice as likely to be out of school than girls in non-affected countries. In Syria, some 2.4 million children are out of school – a direct result of more than a decade of conflict. The staggering number represents nearly half of the country’s school-aged children.
"When I saw the damage to my old school, I felt devastated. I had some good times there. When I found out that my mom had enrolled me in another school, I felt hope lighting up my heart again."
In Syria, one in three schools has been destroyed, damaged or are being used for purposes other than education. Children often travel a long distance to attend a school that is still operational. Classrooms are often overcrowded and school premises do not have sufficient water and sanitation facilities.
UNICEF works to build gender-sensitive bathrooms to reduce the time girls spend out of school when menstruating.
Since 2018, UNICEF has worked with the Ministry of Education to rehabilitate 139 schools across several governates in Syria. In all these schools, UNICEF helped to restore classrooms, install drinking water stations and build gender-sensitive WASH facilities. Girls can manage their periods in a safe and dignified manner.
Creating safe learning spaces in Lebanon
In Lebanon, UNICEF rehabilitated 23 public schools that had fallen into disrepair and had become unsafe for children. The renovations benefitted 6,571 children and focused on ensuring safety, hygiene, accessibility and gender sensitivity. The project, completed in April 2020, aimed to improve access to quality education for all vulnerable children – both Lebanese and Syrian – and reduce the risk of dropout, especially among girls.
UNICEF supported improved accessibility for children with disabilities by installing ramps and accessible bathrooms in the rehabilitation. Gender-appropriate bathrooms with separate stalls allowed privacy and dignity for girls.
School safety was improved by removing electrical hazards. Fences were made safe, broken glass was removed, and security gates and window bars were put in place. A waterproofing system was installed, and maintenance and repair of electrical and lighting systems were carried out. Repairs and repainting ensured that schools were transformed into a conducive learning environments. In line with UNICEF’s efforts to reimagine education, computer laboratories were renovated in schools that required them.
Reducing distance to school in rural Djibouti
In rural contexts, schools are often far from home, and the safety risks in walking the long distance can be a significant barrier to accessing education. This is especially true for girls when street harassment or violence is prevalent. Parents who fear for their daughters’ safety may keep them from traveling outside their community.
One solution to this problem is building school dormitories where girls can live during the term. In rural Djibouti, UNICEF is building three new rural boarding schools in Danan, Waddi and Abaitou, each with approximately 15 classrooms, a canteen, dormitories and WASH facilities.
In addition, UNICEF is refurbishing and adding WASH facilities to five schools in the Balbala district of Djibouti City and building four early child development centres in Obock, Tadjourah, Arta, and Ali Sabieh. Solar panels and rainwater harvesting will contribute towards cost savings and environmental sustainability. Read more about UNICEF sustainable building methods.
This project aims to encourage schooling for rural girls by giving them access to quality facilities and improving their learning environments, making it safe for them to stay in school. Around 10,000 girls in rural areas will benefit from this project.
Investing in girls’ education transforms communities, countries and the world. Girls who receive an education are more likely to lead healthy, productive lives. They have a much better chance of earning higher incomes, participating in the decisions that most affect them and building better futures for themselves and their families.
