Gender inequality in education is still a major problem in many parts of the world, especially in less developed countries. While Article 10 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) states that women have the same rights as men in education, the reality does not reflect it. In Indonesia, the law also states that all children should have access to education. However, there is still a disparity between boys and girls regarding education in Indonesia. Gender inequality in education heavily affects girls and women in poorer areas. In these areas, girls are more likely to drop out of school than boys, which means they are less likely to be able to get a higher level of education.
Disadvantages Women Face with a Lower Level of Education
A low level of education for women is going to affect many aspects of their life in the present and in the future. A low level of education means these women have fewer hard and soft skills needed to get high-skill jobs. Because of this, they are only able to get low-skilled jobs, which subjects them to exploitative, unstable work with very low wages. This makes it even harder for women to be able to break the cycle of poverty, as their wages are only enough to be able to live day to day.
Another negative impact is how this will hinder their growth, especially in developing countries. In many developing countries, education can reduce the chances of child marriage for girls. This means that girls are also able to stay in school and finish their education instead of getting married early. In many parts of the world, girls are prohibited from going back to school after pregnancy, or girls drop out of school entirely due to their marriage.
Benefit of Education for Women
Giving women a proper level of education can present them with more opportunities. A higher level of education for women can open up more doors for them rather than exploitative lines of work which cannot benefit them further in the future. They can get jobs with higher income and benefits which can help them to break the cycle of poverty. This also means that women can contribute more towards the economy, both at home and also at a much larger scale.
Another important aspect of equal education for women is how it can help build a better and healthier community. Educated women would usually marry later in life, which means that it would lessen the chance of a dangerous first birth for both the mother and the child. They would also make more informed decisions regarding healthcare and nutrition for them and their children, which would help to lower the mortality rate for children and women.
One of KOMIt Foundation’s efforts in promoting gender equality is through our scholarship program Y30, which targets students from vulnerable, low-income, minority, and marginalised backgrounds. Through this scholarship, awardees receive tuition fee assistance from the 2nd to 8th semester. This scholarship can help marginalised students to focus on their studies without financial worries.
References:
https://equity-ed.net/global-advantages-of-female-education/
https://malala.org/girls-education#mrwvdf4l
https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/09/04/roadblocks-to-gender-equality-remain-in-indonesian-schools/
https://equity-ed.net/global-advantages-of-female-education/