Gender Parity Index

Gender parity index is a socioeconomic tool designed to measure the education of status of male and female students as per the enrollment made in the primary and secondary schools. International organizations like non-profit and non-governmental associations use this GPI to measure the education status of children in developing countries. The entities like UNICEF which deals with children related issues and frame policies to protect the rights of children need such strategic development tools before they form and implement such plans.

To identify literacy levels

This not only means the education standards have to be set up but also girl children have to be concentrated more and offered privileges. For many of the developing countries the issues such as gender discrimination are usual and relatively larger percentage of children deprived of their basic right that is the right to education. In such instances gender parity index is of great use and applicability. And another entity UNESCO also involves in preparing this gender parity literacy. Except in few states around the world where the female percentage in literacy is more, majority of the places there is unequal access to women’s education.

Assisting in strategic planning

In the third world countries, this scenario is more common that is denying the rights of girl children’s education due to cultural implications. In such occasions gender parity index identifies and assists in framing policies and schemes in the development goals. The organizations insist the governments as well to promote the awareness of education especially that of girls. In several nations the access to education is not easy for the females and are discouraged rather assigned to look after the siblings and household duties. These disparities between genders continue to be the hard reality of many patriarchal societies.

To promote education

Gender parity index here becomes the indicator to measure the development of the nation as countries only where equal access to education and opportunities are more for female population then the countries have developed. And UNESCO has come up with the goal that by 2015 to ensure complete free access to quality education for all particularly for girls. In addition improvement of literacy levels by 50% particularly for adult women are the significant goals towards which certain policies are implemented across the globe.

Even in Millennium development goals women education, compulsory primary education has been insisted and governments are given guidance to initiate these action plans for the betterment of all. Illiteracy eludes many of the privileges for women and in fact women who are educated are free, suffer less and are effective in decision making and lead a better life.

Questions:

• What is gender disparity index?
• How does it help the field of education?