Young Activists Call for Greater Investment in Education for Gender Justice
Around the world, young activists are raising a clear demand: governments must invest more in education to achieve gender equality. At the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, youth leaders from the SDG4 Youth & Student Network joined gender justice advocates to highlight a critical issue,education systems remain deeply underfunded. According to the FundEducation campaign, low- and middle-income countries face a $97 billion annual gap in funding needed to reach Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030. In many cases, governments spend far more on debt repayment than on education, limiting opportunities for students, especially girls.
The consequences are profound. UNESCO estimates that 133 million girls are currently out of school, and in Afghanistan alone, nearly 1.5 million girls are banned from secondary education. In crisis-affected regions, 234 million children require urgent educational support, with girls making up more than half of those completely excluded from schooling. Without access to education, girls are more vulnerable to poverty, child marriage, and gender-based violence.
Investing in education is not only a moral imperative but also a practical one. Studies suggest that closing gender gaps in education and employment could increase global GDP by up to 23%. Ensuring universal access to basic education would also bring significant long-term economic benefits. For this reason, youth advocates are calling on governments to allocate at least 4~6% of GDP to education and to build fair taxation systems that can sustainably support public services.
For many young people, the issue goes beyond policy,it is about rights and dignity. Education is not just a development target; it is a fundamental human right and a foundation for gender justice. Without stronger and more consistent investment, millions of girls will continue to be left behind, excluded from opportunities that could shape not only their futures, but the future of entire societies.
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