Out-of-school children rise to 273m globally – UNESCO

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The number of children and young people out of school worldwide has climbed to 273 million, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has said.

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UNESCO, in the 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report released on Wednesday, stated that the number of out-of-school children and young people has risen for the seventh consecutive year.

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The report finds that one in six school-age children are excluded from education, while only two in three complete secondary school.

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Progress has also slowed across most regions since 2015, with conflict and population growth identified as major drivers.

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“Progress in keeping children in school has slowed across almost every region,” the report noted, with sub-Saharan Africa particularly affected.

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In conflict zones, the situation is even more acute, with millions more children out of school than official figures capture.

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Despite these setbacks, UNESCO highlighted significant gains over the past two decades.

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Global enrolment has risen sharply, with “more than 25 additional children accessing school every minute” since 2000.

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The report also found that some countries have made remarkable progress, reducing out-of-school rates and expanding access to all levels of education.

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However, the report cautioned that no single policy can tackle exclusion.

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It urged tailored approaches and sustained investment to ensure all children can learn.

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