【英文記事で英語学習】Global Support for Girls’ Education 日本企業による教育支援

While the gender gap in education is closing year by year in developed countries, there is still a significant gender gap in education in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and parts of South America. This disparity is caused by poverty, child marriage, and problems in the educational environment.

On the other hand, some data show that for every additional year of primary education a girl receives, her future earnings increase by about 11% and that if all women completed secondary education, the under-five mortality rate would decrease by about 49% and about 3 million lives could be saved per year. It is a great benefit to society.

Therefore, some Japanese companies are providing global support to protect women’s human rights and expand their potential.

Shiseido’s global luxury brand, clé de peau BEAUTÉ, launched a global partnership with UNICEF in 2019. The partnership focuses on promoting STEM education, which until now has been kept away from girls due to stereotypes and gender discrimination.

Ultimately, throughout the three-year partnership, they have donated a total of US$8.7 million, the largest donation in the world, to support UNICEF’s work to protect the rights of 7.9 million girls and provide them with opportunities for education and skills development.

Promoting Learning in Conflict Areas by Providing School Backpacks

Since 2004, Kuraray, a chemical manufacturer, has been involved in the “Randoseru across the sea” initiative. “Randoseru” is a backpack used by Japanese elementary school students. Though they are very durable and long-lasting, they are no longer used after graduation. Therefore, they deliver those backpacks to children in Afghanistan, where there is a shortage of school supplies due to the conflict, thereby supporting local children’s learning and reusing school backpacks.

On the other hand, Japan has contributed only US$46 million to the Global Partnership for Education, which also focuses on supporting girls’ education. That’s very low compared to US$1.4 billion by the United Kingdom and US$670 million by the United States, making it the lowest in the G7.

In addition, Japan ranked 120th out of 156 countries in The Global Gender Gap Index 2021, almost the lowest among developed countries, which indicate that sensitivity to women’s rights is low even within Japan.

Due to the domestic gender gap, only a few Japanese can turn our attention to the issue of educational disparity in developing countries. That is why we need to increase concrete efforts such as those introduced in this column while first spreading awareness about the importance of girls’ education also in Japan.

1. According to the data in the article, providing secondary education for all women can help decreasing the under-five mortality rate. True or False?
2. Shiseido donated US$8.7 million to UNICEF in 2019, the largest donation in the world. True or False?
3. Japan ranked almost the lowest among developed countries in The Global Gender Gap Index 2021. True or False?

※正解は記事最下部へ

1. True
   記事内では、仮にすべての女性が中等教育を修了することができれば、5歳児未満死亡率が約49%減少し、1年間に300万人もの命を救うことができるというデータが示されています。
2. False
   資生堂がユニセフに対して行った870万米ドルの寄付は、1年間の寄付額ではなく、3年間にわたるパートナーシップを通じて送られた合計額です。
3. True
   2021年のジェンダーギャップ指数において、日本の順位は156ヵ国中120位と、先進国の中でも最低レベルでした。