British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Girls’ Education Helen Grant has laid emphasis on investing in girls’ education which she thinks an “absolute game changer” and ensures a safer, fairer and better world for the girls giving them greater say over their futures.

“Investing in girls’ education is an absolute game changer,” she said, adding that girls’ education is a key priority for the UK government.

Helen Grant, who was appointed in January 2021 as the British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Girls’ Education, made the remarks before wrapping up her recent visit to Bangladesh.

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While talking to a small group of reporters at the residence of British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson, Helen listed poverty, climate change; gender based violence, early pregnancy and forced marriage as some of the barriers that need to be addressed through joint efforts.

As girls remain at greater risk of violence, sexual abuse, child marriage due to out of schools, she said investing in girls is very important.

The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has recently contributed US$34.7 million to Unicef through the British High Commission in Dhaka to provide access to quality education for the most disadvantaged and out-of-school children in Bangladesh.

“Bangladesh has made significant progress towards ensuring education for every child. But persistent and complex challenges remain when it comes to equitable access and the quality of education,” said Sheldon Yett, Unicef Representative to Bangladesh on Friday.

The contribution by the UK Government will boost Unicef’s joint work with the Government of Bangladesh and partners to address these challenges, and to especially support disadvantaged students whose education has been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, he added.

The partnership with the UK government focuses on education for out-of-school children and will improve learning particularly for girls, children with disabilities and children from the most disadvantaged areas.

It also places emphasis on improving enrolment, retention and completion rates in primary and secondary education.

Throughout, Unicef will continue to work closely with the Government of Bangladesh and key stakeholders, not least, children and their parents.

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The partnership will bring significant change to the lives of the children who need it the most, and will help to strengthen the education system for all.

“The UK has committed to stand up for the right of all girls to 12 years of quality education. We are delighted to be partnering with Unicef and BRAC and working closely with the Government of Bangladesh to improve student learning, support adolescent girls to stay in school, and enable the most marginalized children to access quality education,” said Robert Chatterton Dickson, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

The UK government funding will support Unicef to implement the partnership from 2021 to 2028.

Before leaving Dhaka, British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy Helen said girls, who are educated, are able to choose or are able to decide when they will get married and can take other important decisions.

She referred to the recent announcement that the UK would invest up to £54 million (around Tk 622) in support for education in Bangladesh.

The funding will be used for two new programmes which will help ensure disadvantaged girls and young people will have access to a quality education.

On teachers training, she said they will be working very closely with the government of Bangladesh on that front too.

Gender-Based Violence

Helen said she visited Bangladesh also to mark the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” saying gender-based violence is “abhorrent and inexcusable”.

She said it crushes self-confidence and self-esteem in women and children and it ruins families and lives.

“And we must eradicate it,” Helen said, urging all to join her in recognizing this campaign and working towards a “safer, fairer and better world” for all.

During her visit in Dhaka and Sylhet, she saw how child marriage denied girls their education. That's why the UK is investing for girls' education here, to give girls greater say over their futures."

She thanked Bangladesh for the incredibly warm welcome to this “beautiful country” and congratulated all on 50 years of independence and all that has been achieved in that time.

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Helen met with students and parents who work at tea plantations in Sylhet and said it is a reminder that education is transformative, not just for the individual but the community. “The UK is proud to support Bangladesh as it works to make its education system more efficient.”

Helen Grant met Korvi Rakshand and the students at Jaago School in Dhaka, which he founded. The JAAGO Foundation believes that ensuring equal access to education for all makes the world a better place.

She mentioned on twitter, "Sadly over half of all girls under 25 in Bangladesh are married before their 18th birthday.”