H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK participated in the International Conference on “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities,” held on 10-12 January 2025 in Islamabad, Pakistan. This event was organized by the Muslim World League in collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training of Pakistan.

The conference served as an important platform to address critical issues and explore innovative opportunities to advance girls’ education within Muslim communities globally. It brought together Education Ministers, dignitaries, policymakers, scholars, and experts from 45 countries to engage in meaningful dialogue and propose actionable strategies for enhancing educational access and quality for girls.

During the event, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, delivered a comprehensive presentation on key education and population statistics of OIC countries at the roundtable discussion titled “Girls' Higher Education: Reality and Prospects.” She underlined the important role of women’s education in the OIC’s agenda. She shared that female youth (below age 25) in OIC countries make up 51% of their total female population (higher than global average of 40%). On the road towards OIC Programme of Action 2025 and SDGs, member countries made significant strides in increasing girls' enrolment. H.E. SELÇUK underlined that this is particularly evident in secondary and tertiary education in the last decade. Additionally, she mentioned about SESRIC’s contributions to the efforts of member countries through its periodical research reports, OICStat Database and training activities.

H.E. SELÇUK also highlighted the devastating impact of the Israeli aggression on education in Palestine, emphasizing that around 40% of all martyrs are children and over 750 educational staff members have been martyred in Gaza. She also underscored the severe disruption faced by over 625,000 students and around 23,000 teachers across Palestine, where most school buildings have been destroyed or damaged in Gaza.

The conference paved the way for a transformative approach to girls’ education in Muslim communities, with concrete steps towards improving educational opportunities for girls in the region.

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