people and planet

Education can provide skills for green innovation: But sub-Saharan Africa’s share
of global expenditure on public agricultural research declined from 10% in 1960 to
6% in 2009.
Education reduces working poverty: It affects almost 90% of workers in low income
countries. Increasing tertiary education in 10 recent EU member states would reduce
numbers at risk of poverty by 3.7 million.
Tertiary education is required to sustain and expand high-skills occupations: In
2015, two-thirds of workers were employed in medium skills occupations.
Education needs to keep up with labour market needs: By 2020 the world could have
40 million too few workers with tertiary education, relative to demand.
PEOPLE
Millions, particularly the marginalized, lack access to basic services: In 2012, in low
income countries, only 28% had access to sanitation facilities and 25% to electricity;
67% made it to the last grade of primary education.
Gender equality is a long way off: Only 19% of heads of state or government are
women. Women in many countries do at least twice as much unpaid work as men.
Education improves health and reduces fertility rates: Educating mothers increased
reliance on exclusive breastfeeding by 90% for the first six months. Four years more
in school in Nigeria reduced fertility rates by one birth per young girl.
Health and nutrition improve education: Female literacy rates were 5% higher for
those with better access to water in India. In Kenya, girls who received deworming
treatment were 25% more likely to pass the primary school exam.
2016 • GLOBAL EDUCATION MONITORING REPORT xv