Gender equality and social inclusion is a critical topic in primary and secondary education and a priority for many education policymakers in partner countries of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). As a result, the GPE Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX), a joint endeavour with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), has worked to address gender equality and issues of equity and inclusion since it began in 2019. Following the announcement of the KIX extension through to 2027, KIX commissioned an independent scoping study to identify key knowledge gaps and research needs on gender equality, equity, and inclusion in education, to inform new KIX-supported research and knowledge exchange activities in GPE partner countries.
The scoping study provides an updated picture of both progress and ongoing challenges related to gender equality and social inclusion. The past few decades have seen a notable improvement in opportunities for all children to realize the right to education. Countries have affirmed their commitment to ensuring that the most marginalized – including girls, children with disabilities, and those living in poverty – can access, participate in, and complete their education. However, while we continue to see global attention focused on the learning crisis and increasing commitments to achieving gender equality and social inclusion in and through education, parity measures continue to mask ongoing and often widening inequalities.
Across diverse contexts, particular groups of children remain marginalized, with some more deeply impacted by the global shocks of the COVID-19 response, conflicts, or crises. Addressing the intersecting disadvantages many groups face is critical to ensuring quality and safe education for all. Therefore, countries are seeking evidence to help them adopt more inclusive and gender-responsive curriculum, pedagogies and leadership, and to ensure safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all in order to address the needs of vulnerable groups and provide them with quality education.
For more information, read the full working paper: Gender equality and social inclusion: Scoping study working paper | GPEKIX
