In honor of International Woman’s Day on March 8, girls’ education has been our focus this week. However, with 31 million girls of primary school age not in school, we must make sure that this issue remains on our minds every day. In Haiti, where this picture was taken at the Ecole Nationale Charles Belair, only 52% of girls attend primary school, compared to 86% of boys.

It cannot be said enough, educating girls is a smart investment. Some countries lose more than $1 billion a year by failing to educate girls to the same level as boys. An educated female population increases a country's productivity and fuels economic growth.

More educated women tend to be healthier, work and earn more income, have fewer children, and provide better health care and education to their children. Girls' education literally saves millions of lives.

Want to know more?

• Good Education Helps Girls to Grow into Strong Women - Global Partnership for Education Board Chair Julia Gillard on what stands in the way of educating the world’s girls in 2015
• No girl left behind – education in Africa - Karen Mundy, Claudia Costin, and Silvia Montoya’s blog on education challenges facing girls in Africa
• Left Behind - Explore UNESCO’s interactive data tool on girls’ education in Africa
• New report on gender equality - A new OECD report sheds light on differences in aptitude, behavior, and confidence between boys and girls
• 15 women leading the way for girls’ education – Be inspired by the work of tireless advocates for gender equity in education from Malala to Emma Watson