26 Mar 2026 - 12:20
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reports that for the seventh consecutive year, the number of children and youth out of school has risen, reaching 273 million worldwide in 2024.
This increase is largely due to population growth, conflicts, and shrinking education budgets, leaving one in six school-age children without access to education, UNESCO said.
UNESCO emphasizes that only two out of three adolescents complete secondary education, although some countries have made notable progress in expanding learning opportunities.
The report warns that regional crises, particularly in the Middle East, have forced school closures, leaving millions of children without education and putting the next generation at risk of falling behind.
Despite these challenges, UNESCO notes that since 2000, enrollment in primary and secondary education has increased by approximately 30%. Countries such as Madagascar, Togo, Morocco, Vietnam, Georgia, and Turkey have successfully reduced school dropout rates.
