The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a stark warning that drastic reductions in global education funding could force an additional six million children out of school by 2026. The agency projects a significant shortfall in Official Development Assistance (ODA) for education, threatening to reverse progress and deepen the worldwide learning crisis.
According to a recent UNICEF analysis, aid for education is expected to plummet by $3.2 billion, a 24 per cent decrease from 2023 levels. This sharp decline is largely driven by just three donor governments, which account for nearly 80 per cent of the anticipated cuts.
The reduction in funds would inflate the number of out-of-school children globally from an estimated 272 million to 278 million.
“Every dollar cut from education is not just a budgetary decision, it’s a child’s future hanging in the balance,” stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Investing in children’s education is one of the best investments in the future, for everyone. Countries do better when their children are educated and healthy, and it contributes to a more stable and prosperous world.”
The impact of these financial shortfalls is expected to be most severe in already vulnerable regions, with West and Central Africa facing particularly dire consequences. Projections indicate that Africa could see 1.9 million children lose access to schooling. In total, 28 countries are set to lose at least a quarter of their education aid. Neighbouring countries Côte d’Ivoire and Mali are among those at greatest risk, with enrolment projected to fall by 340,000 and 180,000 students, respectively.
Primary education is slated to be the hardest-hit sector, with its funding expected to drop by one-third. UNICEF warns this could cost the children affected an estimated $164 billion in lost lifetime earnings.
The crisis also jeopardizes essential services that keep children in school. Funding for school feeding programmes, often a child’s only reliable daily meal could be halved. Support for girls’ education is also likely to diminish. Furthermore, the 290 million children who remain in classrooms may experience a significant decline in the quality of their education.
In response, UNICEF is urging donor nations to commit at least half of all education aid to the least developed countries, protect humanitarian funding, and prioritize foundational learning in early years and primary school. The organization also calls for reforms to create more efficient and sustainable financing models for the future.
