Let girls learn: the world needs their talent

Julia Gillard joined First Lady Michelle Obama and over 300 enthusiastic school children at the Mulberry School in London to talk about Let Girls Learn

June 16, 2015 by Julia Gillard, Global Partnership for Education
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4 minutes read

I was so pleased earlier today to join First Lady Michelle Obama and over 300 enthusiastic students at the Mulberry School for Girls in London to talk about Let Girls Learn - the First Lady's courageous and bold initiative to help adolescent girls around the world complete school. Like Michelle Obama, I am passionately committed to this cause.

We know that if you educate a girl, you will change her country and help improve our world. When girls are educated, child marriages and early births decline, the workforce is strengthened, jobs are created, incomes rise, social conditions and health outcomes improve. Put simply, educating girls builds a brighter future.

Today, we discussed with the schoolgirls in central London these challenges and opportunities. You could feel the energy in the room as we spoke about the importance for girls to complete their education. That with education, girls can rise and fulfil their dreams. That we need educated girls to help tackle the problems we face, from poverty to climate change. That we need to invest in our young girls. We also discussed how important it is to know your world, and your community, and being engaged with it.

In the education community around the world, 2015 is a year of decision, the time to make a decisive commitment to ensuring that all children are educated. The Global Partnership for Education is working with donor governments and partner developing countries to ensure that we have the resources and the capabilities to achieve this goal.

In girls' education, the Global Partnership for Education has a strong track record of success. GPE partners have helped enroll around 11.7 million girls in school since 2003. 69% of girls in developing countries that partner with GPE now finish primary school - up from 56% in 2002. We can build on this and make further progress.

Today was an important step, together with Mrs Obama, to give voice to our aspirations for girls' education. It was an honour to join her at Mulberry School. A big thanks to all the staff and students who made us so welcome.

Climate change, Gender equality

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Comments

June 16, 2015 by Gwendoline Blake

Girls have equal value to boys. Girls are equal but not the same. Girls become women and women bear children and raise those children. Education begins at home. Educated women produce educated children. Because of their different nature and special role in life, women see the world in a different light to men. The world is their world too and the world of their children - their ideas are valuable, their ideas are different. Their ideas are not better than men's ideas they are different and can contribute greatly to making the world a better place. Educate them. Listen to their ideas. Empower them for good.

June 17, 2015 by John Underwood

I couldn't agree more about the need to educate all girls in those countries where religious ideas undervalues the part played by girls and women in the progress of mankind.

June 17, 2015 by Julie Davis

In reply to by John Underwood

It's not just for girls in countries where religious ideals determine if a girl should be educated or not. It is everywhere. I found out this week that a private school in our local area, which was once boys only & has introduced girls over the past 10 years, still doesn't have the same subjects on offer as boys.
We live in a patriachal society, by ensuring all girls have good access to education, we can change this. The best way is to lead by example. Show the world how we do it here and ways we can help others achieve the same goal.
My daughter is 9, my son is 8. I want my daughter to grow up knowing she CAN do anything. At the same time, I want my son to grow up knowing that there is no difference in a girls acedemic ability to a boys.

June 18, 2015 by Denis Gillett

We should all recognize,encourage and support equal opportunities and education of girls as there is plenty
of evidence and proof around of their contribution. What a tremendous waste if such energy and thinking power is not utilized to it's full potential.

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