Boys are falling behind in school in graduation rates, school completion and grade level compared to girls in 90+ countries all over the globe, according to research reviews by UNESCO and the World Bank.
On April 5, 2023, the Global Boyhood Initiative hosted a panel discussion, “Boys & Education: What Does Gender-Transformative Education Look Like?” Our panel included Lucina Di Meco (Room to Read), Matthias Eck (UNESCO), Antara Ganguli (UNGEI), Laura Gregory (World Bank), Giovanna Lauro (Equimundo), and was moderated by Equimundo President and CEO, Gary Barker.
The discussion highlighted transformative, scalable and evidence-based approaches and their applications across various geographies, and what approaches education systems and adult caregivers of young boys can adapt to promote healthy, emotionally connected and non-violent boyhood and to advance education for boys. By accompanying efforts to promote girls’ education and empowerment, not only does this positively impact the lives of boys, but it is also essential to achieve the full equality of women and girls.
The Global Boyhood Initiative is coordinated by Equimundo and is designed to support boys aged 4 to 13 and the adults in their lives with the resources they need to raise, teach, coach and set an example for boys to become men who embrace healthy masculinity and gender equality. Learn more about GBI here.
Slides:
Leave No Child Behind: Global Report on Boys’ Disengagement from Education – Matthias Eck, UNESCO
Educational Underachievement Among Boys and Men – Laura Gregory, World Bank
Disney Dialogue broken down by gender; Examples of gendered advantages and disadvantages – Antara Ganguli, UNGEI
Resources:
Leave no child behind: Global report on boys’ disengagement from education (also available in French and Spanish) – UNESCO
Publication: Educational Underachievement Among Boys and Men – World Bank
Achieving Gender Equity Depends on Boys, And How We Raise Them – Room to Read, Equimundo
UNESCO laureate Room to Read Cambodia helps girls stay in school – UNESCO, Room to Read