UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25

Current Context: The UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25 was released on June 5, 2025. Published by UNESCO, the report highlights persistent gender gaps in education outcomes and leadership worldwide.

Key Findings:

• Reading proficiency: Boys lag behind girls globally, with only 87 boys meeting minimum reading levels per 100 girls.
• Mathematics performance: Gender gaps remained stable for two decades, but COVID-19 disruptions led to declines in girls' math scores in Brazil, Chile, England, Italy, and New Zealand.
• Leadership roles: Women remain underrepresented in academic leadership. In India, only 5% of vice-chancellors or directors in 189 national institutions were women in 2021.
• School leadership: Gender bias in promotions limits female representation. In Pakistan and Balochistan, gender segregation restricts women’s leadership opportunities to girls-only institutions.

Question:

Q.1 According to the 2024–25 GEM Report, what is the global ratio of boys to girls achieving minimum reading proficiency?
a) 100 boys per 100 girls
b) 90 boys per 100 girls
c) 87 boys per 100 girls
d) 80 boys per 100 girls

Answer: c) The report highlights that boys are lagging behind girls in reading proficiency globally, with only 87 boys meeting minimum reading levels per 100 girls.