By Jess McCabe | 18 April 2005, 11:51

UNICEF is set to release a report today showing mixed progress in getting more girls into school around the world.

According to the report, there are now the same number of girls as boys in school, world-wide.

However, there is still an unacceptably wide gap between the number of girls and boys in eduction in some regions.

There would need to be a ‘quantum leap’ if the world was to achieve the goal of universal primary education by 2015

However, UNICEF’s executive director Carol Bellamy, still managed to be upbeat. She said: ‘A goal of universal primary education with equal opportunity for girls and boys is realistic. It\x92s affordable, it\x92s achievable and what\x92s more, it\x92s our children\x92s birthright.’