Girls were more likely to be out of school than boys at both the primary and the secondary educational levels. Income and wealth also have a direct impact on educational outcomes, particularly in countries where education is not provided free of charge. They also affect education indirectly, as malnutrition, disease and lack of stimulation are heightened by household deprivation. All of these are factors that undermine the linguistic, cognitive and social skills that children develop even before entering school, and which form the foundations for lifelong learning and for economic as well as other opportunities.