We must invest in local leadership to secure the future of Girls’ Education

We must invest in local leadership to secure the future of Girls' Education


By Maliha Fawzia, Strategic Lead of Girls’ Education, Teach For All

As the first female maths teacher in a low-income school in Dhaka, Bangladesh, I witnessed how deeply ingrained cultural and societal barriers continue to block girls’ access to quality education. Efforts were made to ensure girls attended school—scholarships were offered, policies mandated enrollment, and sanitary supplies were provided for girls. But I saw firsthand that these well-intentioned efforts didn’t always translate into meaningful change. Girls were still dropping out of my school because of cultural expectations, early marriage, or simply because their education wasn’t prioritized at home. It became clear that while these technical fixes were necessary, they didn’t address the deeper, systemic issues that held girls back.

Too often, policymakers focus on quick, measurable fixes, leaving the root causes of inequality unaddressed. But despite decades of investment, technical solutions—like more workshops, distribution of sanitary pads, and new policies—fail to address these underlying challenges. According to a recent report, between 2019 and 2022, nearly 40% of countries—home to over 1.1 billion women and girls—stagnated or regressed in gender equality. Even more alarming, UN Women reports that we are not on track to meet any of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) targets for gender equality. 

These statistics raise a critical question: Is our current focus on technical solutions truly addressing the systemic challenges facing girls’ education? While these efforts are important for addressing immediate needs, they are not sufficient to confront the societal and cultural barriers that perpetuate inequality. Achieving sustainable change requires leadership within communities from people who understand the unique challenges girls face and are committed to dismantling these barriers.

It is the leadership of teachers and community members, deeply embedded in the daily lives of their students, that was the most transformative force in the lives of the girls I’ve worked with. These advocates challenged the status quo and created safe, nurturing spaces where girls can learn and grow. They saw each girl as a full individual, with unique experiences and potential. Most importantly, when girls themselves have the leadership skills, knowledge, and confidence to envision their futures, they are empowered to make decisions unconstrained by gender norms.

At a school in Cheiko, Kenya, two Teach For Kenya teachers June and Paul have identified gender-based violence as a big challenge for the students in their classrooms. They planned and designed safe classroom cultures and activities that strengthened awareness and protective measures against gender-based violence within the community. As a result, the students started to share their challenges and experiences. These two brave teachers, with the support of community members and child rights groups, rescued girls from abuse and helped navigate the legal procedures to identify the perpetrators and pursue justice. When local leaders engage with their communities, they are not just solving individual problems—they are fostering the kind of resilience that can continuously adapt and respond to new challenges. 

Similarly, CAMFED’s pan-African network of young women leaders demonstrates the power of strong grassroots leadership in advancing girls’ education. Comprising teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs, and activists, these women are challenging societal norms and advocating for change at local, national, and global levels. Their leadership not only transforms individual lives but also creates ripple effects that uplift entire communities—establishing networks, advocating for policies, and shifting cultural norms that ultimately reshape the educational landscape for girls. 

While much of the focus in girls’ education is rightly on female leaders, male allies play an equally important role in dismantling traditional ideas about gender roles and advocating for girls’ education.  Hasibur Rahman Sohan, a Teach For Bangladesh male teacher, identified early marriage as a major challenge for primary school girls in his rural community in northern Bangladesh. In addition to working with women,  Hasibur built close relationships with fathers, male community leaders, and peer teachers to engage them in addressing the issue of early marriage. He became a regular participant of the daily discussions at tea stalls, roadside chats, and community events. Through these conversations, Hasibur developed male champions who, alongside him, began to question and shift harmful gender stereotypes that contributed to early marriage. Today, Hasibur leads the program team of Teach For Bangladesh, where girls’ education remains a central priority, working with hundreds of teachers across the country.

These examples all point to one central conclusion: leadership embedded within communities has the power to drive lasting, systemic change. To unlock this potential, we need to invest in developing this leadership at every level.

In my own journey, being the only female maths teacher in a community not only shifted perceptions but actively challenged traditional gender roles. Parents, teachers, and community members began to rethink what was possible for their daughters, while the girls themselves showed increasing interest in STEM subjects. Many of them are now pursuing careers in these fields. This multiplier effect is a testament to the power of visible, vocal, and proactive leadership. But the work cannot stop there. We must continue to cultivate an ecosystem that not only empowers girls to learn and grow but prepares them to become leaders themselves—driving change in their own communities.

In a world where girls’ rights are under threat, more policies, more schools, and technical solutions are important, but they alone are not enough. What creates resilient systems is a critical mass of local leaders with the capacity and values to challenge the status quo and advocate for lasting change. Investing in leadership development—among girls and at every level of the systems that surround them—ensures that progress toward gender equality is not only protected but accelerated, creating ecosystems where girls can thrive and lead, shaping their own futures. 



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