A new report released by Education Cannot Wait estimates that 258 million school-aged children and adolescents now have their education affected by crises worldwide. Of these, 93 million are entirely out of school, while millions more remain enrolled but struggle to learn under conditions that undermine their progress and increase their risk of dropping out.
One of the key findings: The number of children affected by crises has increased by 21 million in just 18 months, reaching an estimated 258 million worldwide. The findings point to a crisis that is growing in scale, highly concentrated and deeply unequal. Educational exclusion is shaped by where children live, the type of crisis they face and whether they are displaced, living with a disability or otherwise marginalised. While the concentration of need creates opportunities for targeted action, the report makes clear that access alone is not enough. Effective responses must help children stay in school, learn, progress and successfully transition through education.