Urgent Need for Quality Education Support for 234 Million Children in Crises Worldwide
January 24, 2025, marks a pivotal moment as Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund focused on education in emergencies, released a significant report highlighting a troubling surge in the number of children needing educational support in crisis situations. This report underscores an alarming increase of 35 million over the past three years, prompting urgent calls for action and additional funding to ensure that all children can access quality education.
The current landscape shows that 234 million children around the world, affected by crises, are in dire need of assistance to continue their education. Alarmingly, 85 million of these children—representing approximately 37%—are completely out of school. This statistic reveals the depth of the challenge, particularly as these children confront adverse conditions caused by armed conflict, climate change, and health crises.
The report issued by ECW specifically identifies that refugees, internally displaced persons, and children with disabilities are among the most affected. Funding for educational emergencies has stagnated, despite significant growth in needs. Historical data indicates that the share of overall official development assistance allocated for education has also diminished in recent years. The United Nations estimates that an additional $100 billion per year is needed to meet educational goals in low- and lower-middle-income countries as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On the International Day of Education, Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, expressed her concern, stating, "Almost a quarter of a billion girls and boys in crisis situations worldwide are being denied their fundamental right to quality education. It is essential that donors from both the public and private sectors step up to protect these children and provide them with the opportunities they deserve. Investing in their education is the best path to sustainable development and a brighter future for us all."
The pervasive challenges faced by these children include exposure to armed conflicts, displacement due to natural disasters, climate risks, and socio-economic challenges. The circumstances resulting from these crises are becoming increasingly severe and interconnected. Over the last five years, the number of global conflicts has doubled, and estimates suggest that 50 countries will experience significantly high levels of conflict in 2024.
Among the 234 million children and adolescents highlighted in the report, a staggering 85 million are entirely out of school. Of these, 52% are girls, 17% are refugees or internally displaced children, and over 20% have disabilities. Notably, five protracted crises in Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Pakistan account for almost half of the out-of-school children nationwide.
The report further details that nearly one-third of school-aged children in crisis situations are not in school. Additionally, 36% of children in lower secondary education lack access, while 47% of those in upper secondary education face similar barriers.
Even when these children are enrolled, many lag significantly behind. Only 17% of students who complete primary education acquire the minimum reading proficiency. Interestingly, girls continually outperform boys in primary school enrollment, making up 52% of this demographic.
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to about half of all crisis-affected school-aged children, facing the most complex challenges in fulfilling every child's right to education. The climate crisis exacerbates the frequency and severity of extreme weather conditions, further disrupting educational access. Reports of severe flooding have impacted regions in the Sahel, Eastern Africa, and Central Asia, while droughts have struck Northwest, Southern Africa, and parts of the Americas. The cumulative effects of these crises have heightened food insecurity and displaced record numbers of individuals worldwide.
Education Cannot Wait and its strategic partners are calling for an additional $600 million in funding to execute their four-year strategic objectives. Through increased funding from both public and private donors, ECW aims to provide 20 million children with security and hope through quality education by 2026.
The current landscape shows that 234 million children around the world, affected by crises, are in dire need of assistance to continue their education. Alarmingly, 85 million of these children—representing approximately 37%—are completely out of school. This statistic reveals the depth of the challenge, particularly as these children confront adverse conditions caused by armed conflict, climate change, and health crises.
The report issued by ECW specifically identifies that refugees, internally displaced persons, and children with disabilities are among the most affected. Funding for educational emergencies has stagnated, despite significant growth in needs. Historical data indicates that the share of overall official development assistance allocated for education has also diminished in recent years. The United Nations estimates that an additional $100 billion per year is needed to meet educational goals in low- and lower-middle-income countries as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On the International Day of Education, Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, expressed her concern, stating, "Almost a quarter of a billion girls and boys in crisis situations worldwide are being denied their fundamental right to quality education. It is essential that donors from both the public and private sectors step up to protect these children and provide them with the opportunities they deserve. Investing in their education is the best path to sustainable development and a brighter future for us all."
The pervasive challenges faced by these children include exposure to armed conflicts, displacement due to natural disasters, climate risks, and socio-economic challenges. The circumstances resulting from these crises are becoming increasingly severe and interconnected. Over the last five years, the number of global conflicts has doubled, and estimates suggest that 50 countries will experience significantly high levels of conflict in 2024.
Among the 234 million children and adolescents highlighted in the report, a staggering 85 million are entirely out of school. Of these, 52% are girls, 17% are refugees or internally displaced children, and over 20% have disabilities. Notably, five protracted crises in Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Pakistan account for almost half of the out-of-school children nationwide.
The report further details that nearly one-third of school-aged children in crisis situations are not in school. Additionally, 36% of children in lower secondary education lack access, while 47% of those in upper secondary education face similar barriers.
Even when these children are enrolled, many lag significantly behind. Only 17% of students who complete primary education acquire the minimum reading proficiency. Interestingly, girls continually outperform boys in primary school enrollment, making up 52% of this demographic.
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to about half of all crisis-affected school-aged children, facing the most complex challenges in fulfilling every child's right to education. The climate crisis exacerbates the frequency and severity of extreme weather conditions, further disrupting educational access. Reports of severe flooding have impacted regions in the Sahel, Eastern Africa, and Central Asia, while droughts have struck Northwest, Southern Africa, and parts of the Americas. The cumulative effects of these crises have heightened food insecurity and displaced record numbers of individuals worldwide.
Education Cannot Wait and its strategic partners are calling for an additional $600 million in funding to execute their four-year strategic objectives. Through increased funding from both public and private donors, ECW aims to provide 20 million children with security and hope through quality education by 2026.
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