SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR January 24, 2024 – To celebrate the International Day of Education and highlight the importance of quality education from the earliest years, Laura Frigenti, CEO of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), joined Minister of Education José Mauricio Pineda Rodríguez in El Salvador, to visit schools, interact with educators, and highlight progress of the first GPE Girls’ Education Accelerator grant.
The Government of El Salvador, with support from its education partners including GPE, has shown a strong commitment to prioritizing education as a driver of growth, equality, and stability, particularly the key reform areas of early childhood and girls’ education.
In El Salvador girls have historically faced numerous educational challenges, particularly with social norms and biases. A recent government review revealed that 70% of basic school learning materials perpetuated misleading stereotypes about girls' abilities and potential. In response, El Salvador received a GPE Multiplier grant of $10 million and was the first country to receive a $5 million grant from the Girls’ Education Accelerator – GPE’s fund solely dedicated to girls’ education.
The US$250 million Girls’ Education Accelerator to support girls’ right to attend school and learn in countries where they are lagging behind. This thematic fund underscores GPE's commitment to integrating gender equality into all aspects of its work, recognizing that empowering girls through education is a critical driver for societal transformation.
While visiting early childhood education centers outside San Salvador with Frigenti, José Mauricio Pineda Rodríguez, the Minister of Education of El Salvador remarked, “This grant is not just a financial contribution; it's a catalyst for change. We're showing our girls and boys that their potential is limitless, starting at the age when everything starts. Through these efforts, we aim to transform our education system into a beacon of quality and inclusion.”
Laura Frigenti expressed her enthusiasm about the grant’s progress: “By redefining gender roles in education, starting with the youngest children, and providing equal opportunities for boys and girls, El Salvador is laying the groundwork for a more equitable and prosperous future. I have come on the International Day of Education to applaud the advances that El Salvador has made in expanding quality education.”
The GPE grant has introduced several key initiatives, including developing gender-responsive reading materials and revising national assessments to ensure equality between boys and girls. These measures are part of broader transformations in El Salvador’s education system, emphasizing early childhood learning with a focus on access, quality, equality, and inclusion.
As GPE continues to support education initiatives in the Latin American and Caribbean region, this visit underlines the organization's dedication to ensuring every girl and boy has access to quality education. This commitment is crucial for building a more equal, prosperous, and peaceful world.
###
About the Global Partnership for Education
GPE is a shared commitment to ending the world’s learning crisis. We mobilize partners and funds to support nearly 90 lower-income countries to transform their education systems so that every girl and boy can get the quality education they need to unlock their full potential and contribute to building a better world.
Media contact:
Tamara Kummer, GPE Head of Communications, @email
Tel: + 33 7 82 26 07 18 or +1 202 948 5395