The United Nations created goals in 2000 aimed at improving life worldwide by 2015, including Goal 3 to achieve gender equality in education by eliminating disparities in school enrollment. Currently, 61 million children worldwide are not in school, with girls comprising 63% of that number at 39 million. Educating girls leads to positive health, economic, and social outcomes. In Pakistan, which has over 5 million children out of school, literacy rates and school access are far lower for girls than boys. Malala Yousafzai advocates for girls' education in Pakistan despite threats and an assassination attempt by the Taliban for her activism.

1. The Crisis in Girls’ Education

2. United Nations Millennium Declaration
• In September of 2000, world leaders gathered at the UN
headquarters in New York to discuss what the
organization’s role should be in the new millennium
• After much deliberation, they created eight goals aimed at
raising the quality of life around the globe by 2015
• The third goal reads as follows:

3. Goal 3
“Empowering women and promoting gender equality, specifically
setting targets to eliminate gender disparity in all levels of
education by 2015.”

4. There are currently 61 million children
around the world who are not in
school. Approximately 39 million (or
63%) of these children are girls

5. For some perspective, 39 million is
equal to...
…and 9 times the total population of Kentucky!
…the total population of California…

6. Educating girls results in…
• Healthier, better educated children
and grandchildren
• Fewer maternal deaths and
reductions in the under 5 mortality
rate
• Delayed marriage and better
parenting skills
• Improved literacy and numeracy
skills leading to greater economic
opportunities
• More skills and knowledge
enhancing women's self esteem and
the well being of families

7. Pakistan has the second largest number of
children out of school (5.1 million) in 2010.

8. Facts About Girls’ Education in Pakistan
• The overall literacy rate is 46%, but only
26% of the girls are literate.
• There are 163,000 primary schools, but
only 40,000 are for girls.
• Two-thirds of Pakistan’s out-of-school
children are girls (more than 3 million).
• Pakistan spends seven times more
money on the military than it does on
primary education.
(Information obtained from unesco.org)

9. Malala’s Mission
• Malala is all about education and basic human rights.
• She lives in Pakistan’s Swat valley and began writing a
blog recording her thoughts and experiences about
being forbidden from going to school.
• Because of her outspoken views, the Taliban
ambushed her school bus and shot her in October
2012.
• She is playing a vital role in bringing education to areas
of Pakistan where there is no concept of education.
• Extremists warned her, attacked schools, and
attempted to assassinate her, but still her hopes are
high.
• Learn more about Malala and her speech at the United
Nations at aft.org and see it here.

10. Malala’s Mission
• Malala is all about education and basic human rights.
• She lives in Pakistan’s Swat valley and began writing a
blog recording her thoughts and experiences about
being forbidden from going to school.
• Because of her outspoken views, the Taliban
ambushed her school bus and shot her in October
2012.
• She is playing a vital role in bringing education to areas
of Pakistan where there is no concept of education.
• Extremists warned her, attacked schools, and
attempted to assassinate her, but still her hopes are
high.
• Learn more about Malala and her speech at the United
Nations at aft.org and see it here.