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Africa: Global Funding Cuts Could Force 6 Million More Children Out of School in the Coming Year
UNICEF warns a 24% drop in education aid from donor governments risks worsening the global learning crisis and costing affected children $164 billion in lost lifetime earnings.
- On Tuesday, UNICEF warned that a forecasted plunge in international education aid could leave 6 million more children out of school by the end of next year, raising totals from 272 million to 278 million.
- A projected $3.2 billion decline shows Official Development Assistance for education will fall 24 per cent from 2023, with three donor governments accounting for nearly 80 per cent of cuts next year.
- Regionally, UNICEF projects West and Central Africa could lose 1.9 million children from school, the Middle East and North Africa 1.4 million, while 28 countries face aid cuts.
- The agency warns funding cuts will reduce learning quality and primary education funding is expected to fall by one-third, risking $164 billion in estimated lost lifetime earnings.
- UNICEF is urging donors to direct at least half of education aid to least developed countries, safeguard humanitarian education funding, and prioritise early childhood and primary education for better impact.
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22 Articles
"This is equivalent to eradicating all primary schools in Germany and Italy," says UNICEF that it is still alert to the impact on girls, providing for cuts in specific study bags.
6 million children will be out of school by 2026 due to funding cuts
The UN's agency for children reports funding for education will see a 24% decrease from 2023, which will raise the number of out-of-school children to 278 million or the equivalent of emptying every primary school in Germany and Italy combined. Read all
Six million more children are at risk of being out of school next year because of cuts in official development assistance.Unicef is calling for a warning this Wednesday, 3 September. In a press release, the United Nations Children's Fund states that, for the education sector alone, this aid "will be reduced by $3.2 billion, a 24% decrease compared to 2023." West Africa and Central Africa would be the most threatened.
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