As a result fewer children are born and their parents are older, more mature and more responsible. Average families will then have fewer children to feed and support.
4. Strengthened democracy. Education enhances political awareness, self-esteem and self-consciousness. Women are then much more likely to be assertive in the advancement of their interests by increasing their propensity to vote and to participate in the political life of the community.
5. Intergenerational transmission of knowledge. Through their role as primary caregivers, females have a disproportionate impact on their children. Educated mothers are far more likely to drive their children to attend school and to receive health care. Women are known to prioritise children and family expenditures with the resources that they control.
My analysis is centered upon the World Bank symposium "Education: a critical path to gender equality and women's empowerment" held in Washington D.C., U.S.A, in October 2007). This event was attended by a large number of experts, including World Bank staff, academics, government officials (e.g. Afghanistan's minister of education) and senior representatives from a plethora of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) involved in education. During the symposium, all delegates were invited to share their experience. This knowledge sharing exercise brought to light that all countries were facing complex challenges in their attempt to attract and retain girls into their school systems.
A wide variety of issues were highlighted, but I would argue that three areas featured prominently:.
__Safety considerations were reportedly discouraging many families from enrolling girls across Asia and Africa. For too many girls the daily commute from home to school represented an overwhelming risk and often even the school premises were deemed unsafe. Dedicated school transport schemes were deemed to be remarkably successful, but the financial cost proved exorbitant.
