The donation from Norway is targeted at expanding access to education, strengthening education systems, promoting advocacy and social mobilization, improving the quality of education and promoting partnerships between civil society, government ministries and the private sector. Almost two-thirds of these children are girls. Obstacles to girls' education include poverty, poor quality education, gender biases, cost of education, lack of female role models and cultural traditions and practices. Access to schools is equally important as distant schools often place the safety of girls at risk. As they travel to and from school, girls are vulnerable to sexual harassment and sometimes rape.
Gender discrimination is pervasive throughout the world.
This is partly due to the prevalent notion that it is only the sons who need to earn money and establish a household. In cultures where the daughters who marry become part of the husband's responsibility, the incentive to educate girls is still weaker. Also, in many countries pregnant girls and young mothers are excluded from school or forced to drop out. An educated mother tends to be healthier and raise her family accordingly. Studies show that an extra year of schooling for girls reduces fertility rates by 5 to 10 per cent.