Skip to content  How a lack of education adversely affects girls
August 1, 2008  “Education is a better safeguard of liberty than
a standing army.” said Edward Everette, the former US Secretary
of State.  Education is power. It helps individuals to be aware
of their rights, to make rational decisions and to protect
themselves against abuse and oppression. However, millions of
people around the world are being denied access to education and
the vast majority are women.  UNICEF believes for every 100 boys
that are out of school, there are 115 girls in the same
situation across the world.  There are several deep rooted
social, religious and cultural norms that serve to exclude women
from receiving an education and thereby, occupying a position of
power and authority.  Lack of education has an impact through
out a woman’s life cycle. Even before birth, female fetuses are
killed in countries like India and China where the birth of a
baby girl is not preferred. This is because a girl would lead to
a greater financ