The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over sharp reductions in global education financing, warning that up to six million additional children could be forced out of school by 2026.
According to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, Official Development Assistance (ODA) for education is projected to drop by $3.2 billion—a 24 percent decline from 2023 levels. Nearly 80 percent of the cuts are linked to just three donor governments.
If the funding shortfall materialises, the number of out-of-school children worldwide could rise from 272 million to 278 million. “Every dollar cut from education is not just a budgetary decision—it’s a child’s future at stake,” Russell stressed.
The deepest impact is expected in already vulnerable regions. West and Central Africa may see 1.9 million children lose access to schooling, while the Middle East and North Africa could account for another 1.4 million. Côte d’Ivoire and Mali are among the hardest-hit, with enrolment projected to drop by 340,000 and 180,000 students respectively.
Primary education is at the greatest risk, with aid expected to fall by one-third. UNICEF estimates that the loss could translate to $164 billion in lifetime earnings for affected children. In humanitarian settings, the cuts could also undermine school feeding programmes—often the only daily meal for many children—and shrink support for girls’ education.
Even the 290 million children who remain in classrooms may experience a decline in learning quality if funding continues to fall.
To avert a worsening crisis, UNICEF is urging donors to commit at least half of all education aid to the world’s least-developed countries, safeguard humanitarian funding, prioritise early and primary education, and adopt more sustainable financing models.