The number of children and young people without access to education worldwide has risen to 273 million, according to a new report by the UNESCO.
In its 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report released on Wednesday, the organisation revealed that the figure has increased for the seventh consecutive year, signalling a worrying slowdown in global education progress.
The report noted that approximately one in six school-age children are currently out of school, while only about two-thirds of students successfully complete secondary education.
“Progress in keeping children in school has slowed across almost every region,” UNESCO stated, highlighting a growing global challenge in ensuring access to education.
The situation is particularly severe in sub-Saharan Africa, where a combination of rapid population growth and persistent conflicts continues to push more children out of classrooms.
The report added that in conflict-affected areas, the actual number of out-of-school children is likely higher than official estimates.
Despite the setbacks, UNESCO acknowledged notable improvements over the past two decades. Since 2000, global school enrolment has increased significantly, with more than 25 additional children gaining access to education every minute.
“Some countries have made remarkable progress in reducing out-of-school rates and expanding access at all levels of education,” the report said.
However, UNESCO warned that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the crisis. It called for context-specific strategies and sustained investment in education systems to address the growing number of excluded children.
The organisation stressed that without urgent and targeted interventions, millions of children may continue to be denied their right to education.
