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News & Notes: Michelle Obama '85 speaks at Fortune 50 Summit

Everyone has a responsibility to address the lack of education for women worldwide, First Lady Michelle Obama ’85 said at the Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women Summit Tuesday, according to a transcript provided by the White House.

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Obama noted that 62 million girls worldwide are not in school and that though there has been some progress in primary education, girls still lag behind in the field of secondary education, with fewer than 10 percent of girls completing high school.

She added that while the problem sometimes comes down to a lack of resources, it is often about attitudes, with girls being subjected to the belief that they should get married and have children or stay home and do household work rather than pursue an education.

Obama also noted that she and President Barack Obama launched Let Girls Learn last spring to support girls’ education in conflict zones and that they have partnered with the Peace Corps. Michelle Obama added that she is launching a $25 million Let Girls Learn Challenge Fund.

The best solutions are often local, Obama said, adding that challenges are different in each community.

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