Addressing the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, Ms. Bellamy urged delegates and the international community to accelerate efforts to ensure that education plans and programmes receive adequate support. All forms of gender discrimination in education must be eliminated. This means quality teaching, physically and emotionally healthy environments, and relevant curricula.
Girls make up the largest single group of children out of school.
Girls' education is a proven 'best investment' for human, social, and economic development, she said. Ms. Bellamy said that the Framework of Action being negotiated in Dakar must single out girls' education as a priority. With the experience of the last decade and longer, she said, we know how to do this. As one example, we must ensure that schools are located where girls can reach them safely and that every school has separate and functioning latrines for girls and boys. Young, female teachers are also an important factor in attracting and keeping girls in school.