Global education funding is facing sharp reductions that could leave an additional six million children out of school by 2026, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said Official Development Assistance (ODA) for education is projected to fall by $3.2 billion, representing a 24 per cent drop from 2023. Just three donor governments account for nearly 80 per cent of the cuts.
Such a decline would raise the number of out-of-school children worldwide from 272 million to 278 million, UNICEF said.
“Every dollar cut from education is not just a budgetary decision—it’s a child’s future hanging in the balance,” Russell stressed. “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 heaviest impact of the funding shortfalls is expected in already vulnerable regions, especially West and Central Africa. The continent could see 1.9 million children lose access to school, while another 1.4 million could be pushed out across the Middle East and North Africa.
In total, 28 countries risk losing at least a quarter of the education aid they rely on. Côte d’Ivoire and Mali face some of the steepest risks, with enrolment projected to fall by 340,000 and 180,000 students respectively.
Primary education will be hit hardest, with funding expected to drop by one-third. UNICEF warned this could deepen the global learning crisis and cost affected children an estimated $164 billion in lost lifetime earnings.
In humanitarian contexts, the cuts could be devastating. School feeding programmes—sometimes a child’s only reliable meal—could see funding halved, while support for girls’ education is likely to shrink. At least 290 million children who remain in classrooms may also face a decline in learning quality.
UNICEF is calling on donors to direct at least half of all education aid to least developed countries, safeguard humanitarian funding, and prioritize early years and primary schooling. It also urges reforms to make financing more efficient and sustainable.
