introduction

After Mali gained independence in 1960, the education level was extremely low, with an illiteracy rate as high as 93%. Mali began education reform in 1962, and after multiple reforms, the education system adopted the French model, including preschool education, nine-year compulsory education, secondary education, and higher education. However, Mali's Gender Development Index and Gender Gap Index are both lower than the global and African averages, and there is a significant gender gap in the education sector. Education is the key to enhancing the status of women. This article will analyze the challenges of gender equality in basic and secondary education in Mali, explore measures to promote women's education, and delve into the root causes of gender inequality in education.

1、 The dilemma of achieving gender equality in education in Mali

Gender equality in education in Mali is a significant issue, with women generally lagging behind men in terms of education level, level, literacy rate, and enrollment rate. Although the enrollment rate of women in primary and secondary education has increased and the gender gap has narrowed, overall educational equity still faces challenges. The uneducated and literacy rates of women are much lower than those of men, and the gender gap in literacy rates has not improved significantly in the past decade. In terms of educational level, the proportion of males receiving education is generally higher than that of females, although the gender gap in primary and secondary education is relatively small. In terms of enrollment rates, women have shown some improvement in primary and secondary education, even surpassing men in some years, but regional differences affect enrollment rates. In terms of the level of digital popularization, women have lower computer and information processing abilities than men, especially in areas with higher technological difficulty.

2、 Mali's initiatives to promote gender equality in education

Mali's measures to promote gender equality in the field of education include developing policies, establishing mechanisms, and seeking international cooperation. After the 1990s, Mali began to pay attention to women's education issues and signed multiple international conventions and frameworks, such as the Convention against Discrimination in Education and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to provide support for national policies. The Constitution and Education Law emphasize that every citizen has the right to education, and the 1999 Education Law specifically proposes specific requirements for women's education. Mali has implemented the "Ten Year Education Plan" and "Ten Year Education Plan 2" aimed at increasing the enrollment rate of girls and reducing gender inequality. The government has established multiple institutions, such as the National Office for Girls' Education and the Girls' Education Department, as well as specialized departments for women's education in national education centers and local teaching associations. In terms of international cooperation, international organizations such as UN Women, UNESCO, and the World Bank have implemented multiple projects in Mali, such as the "Mali Project to Improve the Quality and Results of Education for All" and the "Joint Project to Empower Girls and Young Women through Education", to improve women's education status. Canada and other Western countries have also helped Mali improve girls' education through funding support and project implementation, such as the "Mali Girls' Education Project" and the "Girls' and Flexible Education Project".

3、 Analysis of the underlying causes of gender inequality in education in Mali

In depth exploration of the underlying causes of gender inequality in education in Mali, mainly analyzed from three aspects: socio-cultural, socio-economic, and security. In terms of social and cultural aspects, gender bias in Mali's traditional Islamic religious culture limits women's right to education, leading to widespread early and child marriage among women, seriously affecting the popularization and quality of women's education. In terms of socio-economic development, Mali, as a low-income country, has a low level of economic development and severe family poverty, resulting in insufficient investment in women's education. Girls are unable to attend school due to household and economic labor. At the same time, the school health infrastructure is backward and lacks knowledge of menstrual hygiene management, leading to "menstrual poverty" and "menstrual shame" becoming obstacles to women's education. In terms of security, public health emergencies such as COVID-19 have had a lasting impact on women's education. During the school closure period, female students face the risk of dropout and dropout. At the same time, the security situation in Mali is grim, and military coups and terrorist attacks are frequent, leading to the closure of a large number of schools, which has seriously affected women's equal access to education.

conclusion

The gender gap in education in Mali has narrowed, and the net enrollment rate of women has increased, but the problems of low education completion rate and high dropout rate still exist. We need to strengthen policy supervision, increase education investment, legislate to protect girls, reduce social conflicts, improve gender stereotypes, and enhance international cooperation.