Global education digest 2011: Comparing education statistics across the world

TLDR

Governments struggle to meet rising secondary education demand, especially in sub‑Saharan Africa where only 36 % of children of age have school places, and girls face the greatest barriers as the gender gap widens. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics Digest compiles indicators on enrollment and completion for boys and girls, analyzes the human and financial resources devoted to classroom experience, and is available in English with forthcoming Arabic, French, and Spanish versions. Secondary teacher numbers have risen 50 % since 1990, yet shortages persist, especially in sub‑Saharan Africa. An article in the Guardian provides further reading on this report.

Abstract

Governments are struggling to meet the rising demand for secondary education, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where there are enough school places for just 36% of children of age to enrol. Girls face the greatest barriers as the gender gap widens across the region, according to the 2011 Global Education Digest. Produced by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), the Digest presents a wide range of indicators on the extent to which girls and boys are enrolling and completing secondary education. The report also enriches policy debates by examining the human and financial resources devoted to the classroom experience of students. For example, the total number of secondary teachers has risen by 50% since 1990 although shortages persist, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The report is currently available in English and versions in Arabic, French and Spanish are forthcoming. Further reading: Article in the Guardian on this report