According to the World Bank, women make up over two-thirds of the world’s illiterate population. In many countries, women and girls face significant barriers to accessing education, including early marriage, poverty, and gender-based violence. Despite these challenges, many inspiring female leaders in the education sector are working to ensure that all girls have the opportunity to receive an education.
There are many inspiring female leaders in the education sector. In this article, we will be discussing eight of them. Also in this category are women who made great strides and are now using their knowledge to champion the cause of education.
Malala Yousafzai
She is perhaps the most well-known advocate for girls’ education. She was just fifteen years old when the Taliban shot her for speaking out about girls’ rights to education. Despite this, she has continued to fight for girls’ education and has become a powerful voice on the international stage. In 2014, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting education. Also, in 2015, she became the youngest ever UN Messenger of Peace. She also has her foundation, the Malala Fund, which works to ensure that all girls have access to 12 years of free, safe, quality education.
Carrie L. Billy
Carrie L. Billy is the president and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, the nation’s largest provider of scholarships for Native American students. She has been a strong advocate for Native American education and is one of the most inspiring women in higher education leadership. She has worked to increase funding for Native American colleges and universities. In 2018, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work in promoting education. Besides, in 2019, she was inducted into the National Native American Hall of Fame.
Michelle Obama
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has been a vocal advocate for education, both in the United States and worldwide. During her time as First Lady, she launched the Let Girls Learn initiative, which aimed to break down girls’ barriers to accessing education. Even though she hasn’t worked on-field in the education sector, she has motivated young girls to study hard and achieve their dreams through her speeches and programs.
Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She was the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
She has dedicated her life to promoting and protecting human rights, particularly the rights of women and children. In 2009, she founded the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran, which works to promote human rights and provide legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses. Also, in 2011, she was awarded the UNESCO prize for human rights education.
Oprah Winfrey
While she is better known as a talk show host and media mogul, Oprah Winfrey is also a powerful advocate for education. In 2007, she founded the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a boarding school for girls in South Africa. The school provides its students with an education on the principles of leadership, service, and global citizenship. Oprah has also been a vocal supporter of education initiatives in the United States, such as the No Child Left behind Act. Also, in 2010, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work in promoting education.
Angela Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of the most powerful women globally. She has been a strong advocate for education, both in Germany and internationally. In Germany, she has worked to increase early childhood education funding and make higher education more accessible. She has also been a champion of the Global Partnership for Education. This initiative works to ensure that all children have access to quality education. In 2018, she won the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the country’s highest honor, for her promotion of education.
Mabel van Oranje
Mabel van Oranje is a Dutch princess and the Girls Not Brides global partnership chair. She is also the founder and chair of the Malala Fund, Netherlands. She has been a vocal advocate for girls’ education. She has worked to increase awareness of the issue of child marriage. In 2013, she was named a global champion for girls’ education by the United Nations. In 2018, she won the Order of Orange-Nassau, one of the Netherlands’ highest honors, for her work promoting girls’ education. Also, in 2019, she was named a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor by Queen Elizabeth II.
Edith Bartley
Edith Bartley is the founder and executive director of the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), which works to increase access to education for girls and young women in Africa. She has been a vocal advocate for girls’ education. In 2013, she was named a global champion for girls’ education by the United Nations. She has worked to raise awareness of the issue of child marriage.
Bottom Line:
The education sector is vital to any society as it helps shape the future leaders of tomorrow. Many inspiring female leaders in the education sector are working to promote access to quality education for all. These leaders are making a difference in the lives of girls and young women worldwide, and they are an inspiration to us all.