Latest news with #Report2024-25
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Few women leaders in education a serious concern, says global report
Representative AI image New Delhi: 'Most teachers are women, but few lead' is the central message of the 'Leadership in Education: Lead For Learning' section of the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25, released on Wednesday night by UNESCO . The report highlights what is a problem across countries: the under-representation of women in leadership positions at all levels of the education system — from schools to education ministries. Globally, women make up 57% of secondary school teachers, but in most countries, the proportion of female principals lags the share of female teachers by at least 20 percentage points. This disparity exists despite growing evidence that gender-diverse leadership correlates with better learning outcomes and more enabling school environment. Similar is the story at the higher education level. While women comprise 45% of higher education faculty, they account for only 30% of leadership roles in universities and colleges. India is no exception to this phenomenon. While women dominate the teaching workforce in primary schools, accounting for over 60% of elementary teachers, their number declines sharply in leadership positions, particularly at the secondary and tertiary levels. Factors such as limited access to mentorship, lack of institutional support, safety concerns, and deep-rooted gender norms continue to restrict women's elevation to decision-making roles. The report also examines political leadership in the education sector. Between 2010 and 2023, only 27% of education ministers worldwide were women. This imbalance matters not only for representation purposes but also for policy priorities. Studies cited in the GEM report suggest that female political leaders are more likely to bat for equitable education funding, inclusive curricula, and community engagement. Countries with specific policies to promote gender equity in school leadership are clearly in the minority. Only 11% of countries globally have taken concrete steps to address the gender gap in principal recruitment. Some regions are taking proactive measures — for instance, several francophone African countries are piloting support programmes for female school leaders. The report says that students in such settings, with more schools led by women, were ahead in progress in mathematics and reading by at least six months compared to their peers in male-led schools. It calls for systemic reforms that move beyond token representation. Among the report's recommendations are transparent and gender-sensitive recruitment for leadership roles, targeted training and mentoring programmes for aspiring women leaders, and policies that enable flexible work arrangements and childcare support. As countries work towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) of inclusive and equitable quality education, educational leadership must reflect the diversity of those it serves. Unless gender barriers in leadership are removed, progress in other aspects of educational equity may remain incomplete, the report has stressed.
India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
Major gender gaps in reading, maths and academic leadership, shows UNESCO report
The UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25 has raised serious concerns over gender inequalities in both education outcomes and leadership positions across the world. According to the report, boys are consistently falling behind girls in reading proficiency, especially in middle-income average, only 87 boys meet the minimum reading level for every 100 girls. This gap widens significantly in middle-income countries, where only 72 boys reach the standard per 100 girls. advertisementDespite these trends, the report notes that gender gaps in mathematics have remained stable for two decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have disrupted this balance. Girls in countries like Brazil, Chile, England, Italy, and New Zealand experienced noticeable drops in their math performance compared to GAP IN ACADEMIC LEADERSHIPIn terms of leadership, the gender gap remains steep. In India, only 5% of women held top positions such as vice-chancellors or directors in 189 national institutions in 2021. In a broader survey of 1,220 universities, just 9% were women vice-chancellors, and 11% held registrar or top administrative are also under-represented as school principals across all school types in India. The report points out that gender bias in promotions and the lack of female representation in top roles continue to be major Pakistan and Balochistan, gender segregation in schools further restricts women's leadership opportunities, limiting them to girls-only institutions. In Balochistan, only 29% of schools were girls' schools in 2021, reducing opportunities for female PROGRESS IN OTHER COUNTRIESBy contrast, Vietnam showed relatively better progress, with 28% of university leadership positions held by women in 2019. However, only 8% served as presidents or rectors, showing that even where women enter leadership, the highest roles remain out of report concludes that while there has been progress, gender parity is still far from reality in both education quality and leadership across much of the world.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Learning outcome India's key school challenge: Unesco
NEW DELHI: Despite achieving near-universal enrolment in primary education, India faces persistent challenges in ensuring learning outcomes and strengthening school leadership, says Unesco's Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25 released on Wednesday, reports . And the problem is not limited to the country. Global study: Few women leaders in edu serious concern New Delhi: "Most teachers are women, but few lead" is the central message of "Leadership in Education: Lead For Learning" section of Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25, released on Wednesday by Unesco. The report highlights what is a problem across countries: under-representation of women in leadership positions at all levels of the education system - from schools to education ministries, reports Manash Gohain. Globally, women make up 57% of secondary school teachers, but in most countries the proportion of female principals lags the share of female teachers by at least 20 percentage points. This disparity exists despite growing evidence that gender-diverse leadership correlates with better learning outcomes and more enabling school environment. Similar is the story at the higher education level. While women comprise 45% of higher education faculty, they account for only 30% of leadership roles in universities and colleges. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Yoga Programs for Total Wellness – Start Today Search7 Learn More Undo India is no exception to this phenomenon. While women dominate the teaching workforce in primary schools - accounting for over 60% of elementary teachers - their number declines sharply in leadership positions, particularly at the secondary and tertiary levels. The report also examines political leadership in the education sector. Between 2010 and 2023, only 27% of education ministers worldwide were women.
Khaleej Times
06-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE retains rank as top global entrepreneurship powerhouse
The UAE has once again clinched the top spot in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report 2024-25, solidifying its reputation as the world's premier hub for business innovation. Outshining economic giants like the US, the UK, and South Korea, the UAE has held the number-one position in the National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI) for four straight years. This achievement underscores the nation's relentless drive to foster a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, setting a gold standard for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) among 56 assessed economies. The GEM report lauds the UAE for its 'strong entrepreneurial landscape,' awarding it first place in 11 of 13 key indicators. These include entrepreneurial finance, ease of funding access, robust commercial infrastructure, and a regulatory environment designed to empower business creators. Government initiatives, such as entrepreneurship education for youth, have also earned high praise, reflecting a holistic strategy to nurture talent from the ground up. Alia Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, hailed the ranking as a proof of the UAE's forward-thinking vision. 'This is a testament to our commitment to building an integrated ecosystem that delivers an attractive and impactful climate for entrepreneurs,' she said. Fuelling this success is a $8.7 billion investment in innovation and SME growth, alongside policies like 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies — a game-changer introduced in 2021. This openness has turbocharged foreign direct investment (FDI), which soared to a record $22.7 billion in 2023, according to the UAE Ministry of Economy. Such figures highlight why the UAE remains a magnet for global business talent. The GEM report also reveals that 67 per cent of UAE adults know an entrepreneur or feel equipped to start a business, while 70 per cent of Emiratis spot ripe opportunities for local ventures. Increasingly, these entrepreneurs are targeting social impact, digital innovation, and international markets — aligning with global trends like sustainability and tech-driven growth. SMEs form the backbone of the UAE's economy, comprising 94 per cent of all companies and employing 86 per cent of the workforce, per Ministry of Economy data. This dominance underscores their critical role in driving economic diversification away from oil dependency — a cornerstone of the UAE Vision 2021 and 2030 agendas. The GEM report's findings align with these ambitions, noting the UAE's top global NECI ranking as a springboard toward its goal of hosting one million SMEs by 2031. The UAE's aspirations don't stop at homegrown talent. Through its National Agenda for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, the country is on a mission to lure the world's brightest business minds. By 2031, it aims to be the leading entrepreneurial nation globally and cradle 10 unicorn startups — private firms valued over $1 billion. With companies like Careem (acquired by Uber for $3.1 billion in 2019) already showcasing the UAE's startup prowess, this target seems within reach. Recent data from Startup Genome ranks Dubai among the top 30 global startup ecosystems, further validating the nation's trajectory. Analysts attribute the UAE's edge to its strategic location, tax-free environment, and relentless policy innovation. For instance, the Golden Visa programme, offering 10-year residency to investors and entrepreneurs, has drawn a flood of international talent since its expansion in 2022. As the UAE charges toward its 2031 vision, its fourth consecutive GEM triumph signals more than just a winning streak — it's a blueprint for how nations can engineer entrepreneurial success. By blending bold investments, progressive policies, and a culture that celebrates risk-taking, the UAE isn't just topping league tables; it's redefining the global business landscape, they said. Meanwhile, hubs like Dubai Internet City and Abu Dhabi's Masdar City are incubating tech-driven ventures, positioning the UAE as a leader in AI, fintech, and green energy startups.
