This International Education Day, Let’s Talk About The Importance of Educating Your Girl Child

International Day of Education

Education is a human right, a public good, and a civic duty.

In recognition of the role of education  in promoting peace and development, the United Nations General Assembly declared January 24 as International Day of Education.

Countries will not be able to achieve gender equality and break the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth, and adults behind unless they provide inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all.

Today, 258 million children and youth do not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read or do basic math; less than 40% of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school; and approximately four million refugee children and youth are out of school.

It is unacceptable that their right to an education is being violated.

The fourth International Day of Education will be held on January 24, 2022, with the theme "Changing Course, Transforming Education." As detailed in UNESCO's recent global Futures of Education report, transforming the future necessitates an urgent rebalancing of our relationships with one another, with nature, and with technology, which pervades our lives, bringing with it both breakthrough opportunities and serious concerns about equity, inclusion, and democratic participation.

This year's International Day of Education will serve as a platform to highlight the most critical transformations that must be nurtured in order to realise everyone's fundamental right to education and build a more sustainable, inclusive, and peaceful future. It will spark discussion about how to strengthen education as a public endeavour and common good, how to steer the digital transformation, support teachers, protect the planet, and unleash the potential in every individual to contribute to collective well-being and our shared home.

The following are the day's objectives: Putting a New Social Contract in Education in Motion

• Promote debate on the critical triggers of transformations to build more equitable and inclusive education systems that will accelerate progress toward SDG 4, taking into account the findings of UNESCO's Futures of Education Report
• Demonstrate transformations in action that have the potential to scale in order to advance digital inclusion, green competencies and skills, and gender equality.
• Mobilize political will to address gaping inequalities in educational access and completion, in line with SDG4; 
• Highlight student voices on what changes and innovations they want to see to make their education more fit for purpose; 
• Highlight teachers' voices on the future of their profession, from integrating technology into their practise to orienting teaching and learning around new skills and mindsets for people and the planet.

National Girl Child Day in India

Every year on January 24th, India observes National Girl Child Day. Today, the country's daughters have a say in almost every field, but there was a time when women were killed in the womb.

Even when daughters were born, they were thrown into the crucible of child marriage. 

Since the country's independence, the Indian government has worked to end discrimination against daughters and sons, as well as atrocities against them.

Many schemes and laws were put in place to elevate daughters to first place in the country. National Girl Child Day was established for this purpose.

There is another reason to celebrate this special day on January 24, which raises awareness to empower the country's daughters. This reason is related to Indira Gandhi, India's first female Prime Minister.

When is National Girl Child Day?

Every year on January 24th, the Girl Child Day is observed. On January 24, 2009, the Ministry of Women and Child Development observed Girl Child Day for the first time in the country.

Why is Girl Child Day on 24 January?

There is a special reason why the 24th of January is designated as Girl Child Day every year. This reason has something to do with Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi was sworn in as the country's first female Prime Minister in 1966. The 24th of January is a significant date in the history of India and the empowerment of women.

Purpose of celebrating Girl Child Day?

The purpose of commemorating this day is to raise awareness of the country's girl children's rights. Along with the country's daughters, everyone must be made aware of the discrimination faced by the girl child in society. Every year on this day, state governments organise awareness campaigns in their respective states.

Theme of National Girl Child Day 2022:

The theme of National Girl Child Day varies from year to year. 'Digital Generation, Our Generation' was the theme of Girl Child Day 2021. In the year 2020, the theme of Girl's Day was 'My voice, our common future.' The theme for Girl's Day in 2022 has yet to be announced.

Importance of Educating the girl child in India

Economic development and prosperity: Educating girls will help to empower them to step forward and contribute to the country's prosperity and development.

Economic empowerment: Helpless conditions for men cannot be changed if women are backward and rely on men. When we educate the girl child, we will achieve economic independence and empowerment.

Better life: Educating the girl child contributes to a better life. The girl's identity will not be compromised. She is literate and is aware of her legal rights. She will not be trampled on her rights. Her life will be better in general.

Improved health: Educated girls understand the value of hygiene and health. They can live a healthy lifestyle if they are educated. Women who are educated can better care for their children.

Dignity and honour: Well-educated women are now treated with dignity and honour. Millions of young girls look up to them as role models, and they become a source of inspiration for them.

The option to pursue a career of her choice: educated girls can achieve success in a variety of fields. When a girl child has the opportunity to be educated, she has a better chance of becoming a successful engineer, doctor, or other profession of her choice.

Conclusion: Girl child education is not something to be taken for granted, and as a result, many NGO's in India have taken an interest in educating the girl child. Women's status in society has changed over time. There is now a greater emphasis on the education of girls and the manner in which they are educated. It is the aspiration of the majority of parents to achieve without regard for gender parity.