Approximately 251 million children and youth around the world are out of school, the figure represents only a 1% decrease in 10 years, according to a report released on Thursday by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The chronic underfunding of education was identified as a significant factor contributing to this issue, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries, according to the report.
“Education is the key driver of prosperous, inclusive, and peaceful societies,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stated.
She cautioned that “quality education risks being the privilege of a few” without significant efforts to implement “measures to give every child across the globe the same chance to learn and thrive.”
Despite notable advancements in educational enrollment, with 110 million children entering classrooms since the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goal on Education in 2015, disparities remain a challenge. The completion rate for secondary education also improved, with 40 million more graduates compared to 2015.
However, the divide between high-income and low-income countries remains alarming, according to findings. The report indicated that 33% of school-aged children and youth in low-income countries are not enrolled in school, compared to only 3% in high-income nations.
Sub-Saharan Africa confronts the most critical education challenges, with over half of the global population of school-age children and adolescents lacking access to educational opportunities on the continent.
UNESCO and the Brazilian government co-hosted the Global Education Meeting in Fortaleza from October 31 to November 1, coinciding with the release of the report and serving as the fourth international gathering focused on assessing global education progress since 2018.