Part of UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring series, the 2025 Gender Report sheds light on a persistent global imbalance: while women make up the majority of the teaching workforce, their numbers drop sharply in school leadership and higher-level education administration.
The report underscores that this isn’t just a question of fairness — it’s about impact. In many countries, especially low-income ones, female school leaders are shown to foster more inclusive, collaborative environments and even improve student outcomes.
Despite progress in access and learning, deep structural barriers still prevent women from rising through the ranks. The report calls for bold, systemic reforms to break down gender biases and institutional obstacles, and urges countries to invest in cultivating a new generation of diverse, visionary leaders committed to equity in education.
This is not just a report on representation — it’s a call to unlock leadership potential for real, lasting change in education systems worldwide.
