Good policy is sharp policy. It is policy that targets specific problems and bottlenecks. For this, we need a clear picture of what is happening and good data. This first World Atlas of Gender Equality in Education responds to this need on one of the most important questions for human rights and sustainable development today. Girls and women remain deprived of full and equal opportunities for education. There has been progress towards parity at the primary level, but this tapers off at the secondary level in developing regions. The global economic crisis is deepening inequalities, made worse by cuts in education budgets and stagnating development support. This Atlas illustrates the linkages between different levels, and it situates
issues of gender equality in a broader context. Equality in education must be integrated into wider policies at the economic, social and political levels.
This is how the transformational power of education for girls and women can translate into sustainable development for society as a whole. Maps are a way to understand the world; they are also excellent tools to
communicate to a wide audience. This Atlas allows readers to access information at a glance and to examine issues of gender equality from different perspectives.