#USA #New York #Education Cannot Wait #Global Crisis #Children Education

Escalating Educational Needs Amid Global Crises

Recent reports highlight a staggering crisis in education impacting numerous children across the globe. According to a new report from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), a global fund dedicated to education in emergency situations, nearly a quarter of a billion school-aged children and adolescents are in dire need of access to quality education. This figure represents an alarming increase of 35 million children over the past three years, with an estimated total reaching 234 million by the end of 2024.

The Harsh Reality

Out of the 234 million children identified in this crisis, approximately 85 million (or 37%) are completely out of school. The report outlines that the groups facing the most severe challenges include refugees, internally displaced individuals, girls, and children with disabilities. Heightened conflicts, exacerbated by increasingly severe weather events due to climate change, jeopardize the current and future educational opportunities for these vulnerable children.

Despite the growing need, humanitarian funding for educational initiatives has stagnated after several years of significant increases. Moreover, the share of official development assistance (ODA) allocated to education has also declined in recent years. The United Nations has indicated that to attain sustainable development goals in low and lower-middle-income countries, there is an annual funding gap of approximately $100 billion.

Urgent Call for Action

On this International Day of Education, ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif emphasizes the urgency for additional funding from both public and private sector donors. “Almost a quarter of a billion girls and boys worldwide, living in crisis-affected areas, are being denied their fundamental right to quality education,” Sherif states. “Unlocking their potential and providing them opportunities for quality education in safe conditions is an investment that can drive transformation.”

Understanding the Scope of the Crisis

Over the past five years, the number of global conflicts has doubled, with 50 countries experiencing extreme, high, or acute levels of conflict by 2024. This has led to increased reports of armed conflict, forced displacement, climate risks, epidemics, and socio-economic challenges that threaten children’s health, education, and overall well-being.

Among the children and adolescents affected, nearly a third of crisis-affected primary school-aged children are out of school, with girls accounting for 52% of this demographic. Furthermore, significant numbers of children with disabilities are also at risk, highlighting a clear disparity in educational access.

Five protracted crises—Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Pakistan—are responsible for nearly half of the children not attending school. The statistics are equally troubling for secondary education, with 36% of lower secondary school-aged children and 47% of upper secondary school-aged children lacking access to education.

The Climate Connection

The report also underscores the impact of climate changes on education access. The Sahel, Eastern Africa, and Central Asia have been severely affected by floods, while regions in northwest and southern Africa, as well as parts of the Americas, face severe droughts. The combined effects of these crises have exacerbated food insecurity and led to unprecedented levels of displacement globally.

To tackle these interconnected challenges, ECW and its global strategic partners are calling for a $600 million increase in funding to fulfill the targets outlined in the fund’s four-year strategic plan. With increased support from public donors, the private sector, and high-net-worth individuals, ECW aims to provide safety, opportunity, and hope for quality education to 20 million crisis-affected children by 2026.

In conclusion, the figures highlighted in this report portray a dire need for urgent action and increased funding to ensure that children suffering in crisis situations have access to the quality education they rightfully deserve. Tackling this crisis is vital in accelerating global progress toward achieving sustainable development goals, and it requires collective global commitment to reforming education in crisis-affected areas.