Early marriage and teenage pregnancy continue to prevent millions of girls from completing their education, according to a new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The report, released on 8 October 2026 ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, highlights the persistent challenges facing girls despite improvements in access to education across the world. It notes that child marriage, early motherhood, poverty and discriminatory social practices continue to limit educational opportunities for many young girls.
According to UNESCO’s 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Gender Report, global gender gaps in school enrolment have narrowed significantly. However, getting girls into classrooms is only part of the challenge, as many still struggle to complete their education because of social and economic pressures.
The findings are particularly significant for sub-Saharan Africa, where early marriage remains widespread, and thousands of girls face difficult choices between education, family expectations and motherhood.
Early Marriage Continues to Threaten Girls’ Education
UNESCO’s report shows that the proportion of girls married before the age of 18 worldwide declined from 25 per cent in 2000 to 18 per cent in 2025. Despite this improvement, the problem remains serious in several regions.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 31 per cent of girls are married before turning 18, compared with 25 per cent in Central and Southern Asia. These figures underline the need for stronger measures to protect girls from early marriage and ensure they can remain in school.
Child marriage can interrupt a girl’s education by placing adult responsibilities on her before she has completed her studies. Marriage may bring expectations of household duties, pregnancy and childcare, making regular school attendance increasingly difficult.
In communities where families face financial hardship, marrying off a daughter may also be viewed as a way to reduce household expenses or secure economic support. However, these decisions can limit a girl’s opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become financially independent.
The report also highlights the connection between early pregnancy and school exclusion. UNESCO estimates that about six million pregnant girls and young mothers aged between 10 and 19 were out of school in sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.
More concerning is the low rate of return to education. Fewer than five per cent of pregnant and parenting girls in the region return to school, according to the report. This suggests that access to education remains a significant challenge even after girls become mothers.
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Sub-Saharan Africa Faces a Persistent Education Gap
Although progress towards gender equality in education has been recorded globally, UNESCO warns that regional and economic inequalities continue to affect girls’ chances of completing school.
The report notes that global gender parity in enrolment has been achieved from pre-primary through upper secondary education. Nevertheless, this overall progress does not mean that every girl has an equal opportunity to learn.
Girls from poor households and rural communities often face additional barriers, including the cost of school materials, transportation difficulties, limited access to suitable school facilities and pressure to contribute to household work.
These challenges can become more severe when early marriage or pregnancy enters the picture. A girl who leaves school may find it difficult to return if she has childcare responsibilities, faces discrimination or lacks the financial support required to continue her studies.
For Nigeria and other African countries, the findings reinforce the importance of addressing the social and economic conditions that keep girls out of school. Enrolment campaigns alone may not be enough if families cannot afford education or if communities continue to place marriage and domestic responsibilities ahead of girls’ learning.
UNESCO’s findings also show why education policies must account for the different circumstances facing girls. A girl living in an urban area with access to transport and financial support may have opportunities that are unavailable to someone in a remote or economically disadvantaged community.
Back Story: UNESCO Calls for Stronger Protection for Young Mothers
UNESCO’s latest findings build on years of international efforts to improve gender equality in education. Governments and development organisations have expanded access to schooling, but the transition from enrolment to successful completion remains difficult for disadvantaged girls.
The report highlights policy changes in several African countries, including Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tanzania, the Central African Republic, and São Tomé and Príncipe, where restrictions preventing married, pregnant or parenting girls and women from accessing education have been removed.
Such changes are important because a girl should not automatically lose her opportunity to learn because she becomes pregnant or gets married. However, removing formal restrictions is only one step towards ensuring that she can return to school.
UNESCO reports that, in 2026, 58 per cent of countries guaranteed the right to education without discrimination based on sex or gender in their legal frameworks. Yet only 35 per cent explicitly protected the educational rights of pregnant and parenting girls.
The figures point to a gap between general commitments to equality and specific protections for young mothers. Without clear policies, financial assistance and practical support, girls may remain excluded even where laws recognise their right to education.
The organisation’s findings therefore strengthen calls for governments to protect girls from child marriage, prevent early pregnancy and provide opportunities for young mothers to continue their studies.
Schools also need to offer supportive environments, including appropriate sanitation facilities, safe transport arrangements where possible, childcare support and measures to prevent stigma against pregnant students and young mothers.
Governments Urged to Remove Barriers to Education
The report makes clear that improving girls’ education requires action beyond school enrolment. Governments, schools, families and community leaders must address the circumstances that force girls to abandon their studies.
Financial support for vulnerable households could help reduce the pressure to withdraw girls from school. Public awareness programmes can also challenge social attitudes that treat early marriage as more important than a girl’s education and future independence.
Schools must be prepared to support girls who become pregnant or assume parenting responsibilities, rather than allowing their circumstances to become a permanent barrier to learning.
For Nigeria, where access to education remains an important development concern, the findings offer a reminder that keeping girls in school requires sustained commitment. Policies must be implemented effectively, particularly in communities where poverty, traditional expectations and limited educational resources overlap.
UNESCO’s report ultimately highlights a central issue: progress in education cannot be measured by enrolment figures alone. Girls must also have the opportunity to complete their studies, develop their abilities and make informed decisions about their futures.
Protecting that opportunity requires governments to enforce safeguards against child marriage while ensuring that pregnancy and motherhood do not permanently deny young girls access to education.
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