Podcast episode on the Lifting Barriers project: Interviews with the project team

Listen to the podcast Goal 4: Education for All, UNESCO Special: Lifting Barriers: Educating Boys for Gender Equality (Season 3, Episode 8), released on 20 May 2026, in which members of the Lifting Barriers team discuss boys’ disengagement from education, harmful gender norms, and the project’s key findings.

Globally, an estimated 139 million boys are out of school.

Addressing boys’ disengagement is critical not only for their future well-being but also for achieving gender equality and inclusive societies. Research shows that boys who complete secondary education are more likely to challenge gender-based violence, participate in caregiving, and contribute to shared domestic responsibilities. Conversely, boys who leave school early face heightened risks of unemployment, poor health, and involvement in criminal activity.

The Lifting barriers: Educating boys for gender equality project, led by UNESCO in collaboration with Equimundo and the University of East Anglia, directly addresses boys' disengagement from education. It works to promote inclusive, positive masculinities and create education systems that are safer, more equitable, and more responsive to all learners’ needs.