Gender parity indices

Measures of gender parity in education help to explain how participation in and opportunities for schooling compare for females and males. With the emphasis of Education for All on gender equality in education, gender parity indices (GPIs) are frequently used in examining progress towards the goals established by this initiative. GPIs help with this comparison by showing the ratio of female to male values for a given indicator. An index of value less than 1 indicates that indicator values are higher for males than for females; an index value of greater than 1 indicates that indicator values are higher for females than for males. Consequently, where the GPI equals 1, parity has been achieved. When interpreting time trends, it is important to note that parity in GPI for an indicator does not necessarily mean that the educational situation for a gender group has improved. Instead, it may mean that participation or opportunities for the other gender group have declined.