Global Education Crisis Deepens as 273 Million Children Remain Out of School — UNESCO Warns

The number of children and young people out of school worldwide has surged to 273 million, according to a new report released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report reveals that the figure has risen for the seventh consecutive year, signaling a worrying setback in global education progress.

According to the report, one in every six school-age children is currently excluded from education, while only two-thirds of students manage to complete secondary school. UNESCO noted that progress in improving school attendance has slowed significantly across most regions since 2015.

The report identified conflict and rapid population growth as key drivers of the crisis, with sub-Saharan Africa bearing the greatest burden. In conflict-affected areas, the situation is even more severe, as millions of out-of-school children are believed to go unrecorded in official data.

“Progress in keeping children in school has slowed across almost every region,” the report stated.

Despite these challenges, UNESCO acknowledged notable achievements over the past two decades. Since 2000, global school enrolment has increased dramatically, with more than 25 additional children gaining access to education every minute.

The report also highlighted success stories from several countries that have significantly reduced out-of-school rates and expanded access to education at all levels.

However, UNESCO cautioned that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the crisis. It called for tailored strategies and sustained investment to address the unique challenges faced by different regions and ensure that every child has access to quality education.