UNESCO dedicates International Day of Education to Afghan girls

• Each year, January 24 is observed as the International Day of Education, as mandated by United Nations to highlight the importance of equal access to good quality education to every human being anywhere in the world.
• UNESCO says that its Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay has decided to dedicate the 2023 International Day of Education (January 24) to Afghan girls and women.
• Currently, 80 pc or over 2.5 million of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school, because of the decision of the de facto authorities to deny them access to secondary schools and universities.
• As per UNICEF report released in August, the fact that girls in Afghanistan are deprived of secondary education has cost the country’s economy at least USD 500 million over the past 12 months, which amounts to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

About UNESCO:

1. Headquarters: Paris, France
2. Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom.
3. Member’s country – 193
4. Present Director-General - Audrey Azoulay