As we reflect on Malala Day, the conversation around global education has never been more urgent. Despite years of advocacy, progress is hitting a stubborn wall.

It’s easy to look at high-profile advocacy and assume things are steadily improving. But the numbers tell a more challenging story. Today, 122 million girls remain out of school worldwide.

To put that in perspective: that is roughly equal to the entire population of Japan or Egypt. In low-income countries, the drop-out rate climbs drastically as girls reach adolescence:

• Primary school age: 39% drop-out rate
• Lower secondary: 64% drop-out rate
• Upper secondary: An overwhelming 81% drop-out rate

“Each year of delay in policy and funding decisions is a year of school that a child will never get back.” — Malala Yousafzai, addressing global leaders at the Education World Forum