30

Asia and the Near East:

Among the 12 countries in the region

reporting the necessary data, 6 have gender gaps in gross primary

enrollment already at or below 5%, while the remaining 6 have

gaps considerably larger than this.

Although gaps are expected

to narrow in several of the latter, none of the high gap

countries are expected to make the dramatic progress necessary to

meet the target by 1999.

Europe and the New Independent States:

Gender gaps at the primary

level are small in almost all countries in the region.

By 1999,

all countries in the region are expected to fall below the 5%

threshold.

Latin America and the Caribbean:

With the exception of Guatemala,

gender gaps in gross primary enrollment ratios tend to be quite

small in the region.

This situation is expected to remain

largely unchanged through 1999.

Agency Strategic Goal:

Human capacity built through education and

training.

Indicator:

Difference between gross primary enrollment ratios for girls

and for boys

Source:

UNESCO Statistical Yearbook 1997

Performance Goal 2:

Gross primary

YEAR

Base

1999

enrollment rates for girls and boys differ

by no more than 5%.

PLANNED

ACTUAL

Percentage of countries meeting performance

AFR

PLN

42%

goal.

ACT

32%

ANE

PLN

50%

ACT

50%

LAC

PLN

89%

ACT

89%

ENI

PLN

100%

ACT

92%

Comment(s):

Data in table are provided for USAID assisted countries for

which data are available.

The baseline and 1999 observations are for 1993

and 1999, respectively.

Data are sparse in all regions except Europe and

the New Independent States; changes in country coverage could affect

measured regional averages in 1999.

3.

Primary school completion rates improved.

Primary school

completion rates provide indirect information on the quality

of schooling; low completion rates typically indicate high