NEW YORK, January 24, 2025 (WSH) — The number of school-aged children around the world caught in crises and in urgent need of access to quality education has surged, according to a new report issued Friday by Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the UN-backed global fund for education in emergencies.
The latest Global Estimates Report reveals that this figure has risen by an estimated 35 million in the past three years, reaching a staggering total of 234 million children by the end of 2024.
A Growing Crisis for the World’s Most Vulnerable
The ECW report highlights the alarming increase in children facing barriers to education due to a combination of escalating conflicts, extreme weather events, and climate-related disasters. Refugees, internally displaced children, girls, and children with disabilities are disproportionately affected, as they remain among the most vulnerable in these global crises.
As the number of children in need has skyrocketed, a stark gap in humanitarian funding is hindering efforts to address the crisis. While global needs have increased, aid to support education in emergencies has stagnated.
The share of total Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocated to education has also declined in recent years. In fact, the United Nations estimates a US$100 billion annual financing gap in the education sector, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
A Call to Action: Investing in Children’s Future
Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, issued a powerful statement on the International Day of Education, urging the global community to shift priorities.
“We are sounding the alarm again. Nearly a quarter of a billion children and adolescents in crises worldwide are deprived access to a quality education due to wars, forced displacement, and climate disasters. The world invests more in military expenditures than in development, more in bombs than in schools. If we do not start investing in the young generation—their education and future—we will leave behind a legacy of destruction,” she said.
Sherif emphasized the need to redirect global funds toward education. “Over US$2 trillion are invested globally each year in war machinery, yet a few hundred billion could secure quality education for children and their teachers in crisis settings,” she added. “It is time to drop the arms race and sprint for the human race.”
The Silent Crisis: Children Left Behind
Of the 234 million children affected by crises, a staggering 85 million (37%) are entirely out of school. Among these out-of-school children:
– 52% are girls.
– 17% (15 million) are refugees or internally displaced.
– Over 20% are children with disabilities.
The report identifies five protracted crises—Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Pakistan—that account for nearly half of these out-of-school children. The situation is dire: nearly one-third of primary school-aged children in crisis-affected areas are not in school, with girls making up the majority (52%).
Widespread Barriers to Education
Access to secondary education is equally troubling. The report shows that 36% of children of lower-secondary school age and 47% of upper-secondary school-aged children in crises are unable to attend school.
Even for those who are in school, many are falling behind. Only 17% of crisis-affected primary school-aged children are able to achieve minimum reading proficiency by the end of primary school. Despite this, girls consistently outperform their male peers, comprising 52% of those achieving reading proficiency.
Sub-Saharan Africa Faces the Greatest Challenges
The report also underscores that sub-Saharan Africa is home to nearly half of the world’s crisis-affected school-aged children. The region faces particularly complex challenges in ensuring every child’s right to education, as it grapples with conflicts, displacement, and severe environmental shocks.
Climate Change Exacerbates the Crisis
Climate change continues to be a significant driver of displacement, with extreme weather events worsening the education crisis. In 2024, heavy flooding devastated areas of the Sahel, East Africa, and Central Asia, while droughts affected parts of Northwestern and Southern Africa, as well as regions of the Americas. These climate-induced disasters have exacerbated food insecurity and caused record levels of displacement, pushing even more children out of school.
Funding the Future: ECW’s Call for Support
In response to this escalating crisis, Education Cannot Wait and its global partners are calling for an additional US$600 million in funding. This will enable ECW to meet its strategic goals for 2026, reaching 20 million children affected by crises with the promise of education, safety, and hope. Through increased financing from public donors, the private sector, and philanthropists, ECW aims to transform the futures of millions of children who have been left behind by the global crisis.
As global conflicts and environmental catastrophes intensify, the time for action is now. Investing in the education of children in crises is not just a moral imperative—it is crucial for a stable, peaceful, and sustainable future for all.
whoh thnis weblog iis wonderful i reakly lie reaading yyour posts.
Keepp upp the great work! You understand, a lott oof persons arre sezrching round ffor thios information, youu could help thrm greatly.
Hoqdy would youu mind lettinjg mee knpw whicxh webyost you’re
working with? I’ve looaded your blog iin 3 completly
different internet browsers and I must say thius blog liads
a lott quicfker then most. Cann youu suggest a goo weeb hosting provider
aat a reasonable price? Thanks, I appreciate it!
What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & assist different users like its helped me. Good job.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…