UNICEF has issued a stark warning that sharp cuts in global education funding could force an additional six million children out of school worldwide by the end of 2026. The UN agency highlights that Official Development Assistance (ODA) for education is projected to fall by $3.2 billion a 24 percent drop from 2023 levels with three donor governments responsible for nearly 80 percent of the reductions.
This anticipated funding shortfall would increase the global number of out-of-school children from 272 million to 278 million, roughly equivalent to emptying every primary school in Germany and Italy combined. Primary education stands to be the hardest hit, with funding expected to decline by one-third, exacerbating a global learning crisis and potentially costing affected children an estimated $164 billion in lifetime earnings.
Children in humanitarian and crisis-affected contexts are particularly vulnerable, with 350,000 Rohingya refugee children at risk of permanently losing access to education. Funding cuts could also decimate essential school feeding programs often the only reliable meal for many children and diminish support for girls’ education.
The regions expected to face the greatest impact include West and Central Africa, which could see 1.9 million children lose school access, followed by the Middle East and North Africa with 1.4 million children affected. In total, 28 countries risk losing at least a quarter of their education aid. Côte d’Ivoire and Mali face some of the steepest risks, with expected enrollment declines of 340,000 and 180,000 children respectively.
UNICEF urges donor countries to protect education funding, especially in least developed countries, prioritize early and primary education, safeguard humanitarian aid, and reform financing models for efficiency and sustainability. Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized, “Education, especially in emergency settings, often serves as a lifeline. Investing in children’s education is one of the best investments in the future for everyone.”