UNESCO has raised fresh alarm over the global education crisis, revealing that about 273 million children and young people remain out of school.
In its 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report released on Wednesday, the agency disclosed that the number of out-of-school children has increased for the seventh consecutive year, underscoring deepening challenges in access to education.
According to the report, one in every six school-age children globally is currently excluded from formal education, while only two out of three are able to complete secondary school.
UNESCO noted that progress in expanding access to education has slowed significantly across most regions since 2015, with conflict and rapid population growth identified as key factors driving the trend.
“Progress in keeping children in school has slowed across almost every region,” the report stated, highlighting Sub-Saharan Africa as one of the hardest-hit areas.
The situation is even more severe in conflict-affected zones, where millions of children are believed to be out of school beyond officially documented figures.
Despite the worrying statistics, the report acknowledged gains made over the past two decades. Since 2000, global school enrolment has improved markedly, with more than 25 additional children gaining access to education every minute.
UNESCO also pointed out that several countries have recorded notable progress in reducing out-of-school rates and expanding educational opportunities, offering a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing challenges.
