These two factors, in particular, make education crucial to realizing the dreams of sustainable development. Education and employment will also enable women to demand and exercise their fundamental rights, including the right to health and reproductive choice. Educated women marry later, have their first children later, and have fewer children overall than their illiterate sisters. An educated citizenry naturally bolsters democracy and political freedom. Some of the goals have to do with the importance of changing attitudes.
Governments are to take the lead in persuading parents of the value of educating girls, for example.
Teachers are to be trained to be more sensitive to the problem of gender discrimination. Governments must make a concerted effort to increase public knowledge of, and commitment to, the Programme of Action. Social change will be absolutely vital to its success. Some goals have to do with improving access to schooling. Girls, including pregnant girls, should be kept in school.