UNICEF’s latest analysis paints a devastating picture: global education funding is projected to fall by US$3.2 billion by the end of 2026 – a 24 per cent drop from 2023. This could push an additional 6 million children out of school, with around a third of them living in humanitarian settings. According to the analysis, primary education is expected to be hit hardest, with funding set to fall by a third – deepening the learning crisis and putting affected children at risk of losing an estimated US$164 billion in lifetime earnings.

In humanitarian settings, where education goes beyond learning to provide life-saving support, stability, and a sense of normalcy for traumatised children, funding could drop sharply – in some cases equivalent to at least 10 per cent of the national education budget.

Regionally, West and Central Africa face the most severe consequences, with 1.9 million children at risk of losing out, while the Middle East and North Africa could see an additional 1.4 million children out of school – alongside major rollbacks across all other regions.

Cuts on this scale will have lasting consequences, not only for children but for global peace and prosperity for generations to come. Investing in education is one of the smartest investments any government can make – it drives economic growth, improves health outcomes, supports climate resilience, and strengthens peace and security. Defunding education is short-sighted and undermines these goals.

Once a widely recognised champion of global education, the UK has seen its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to education fall dramatically – from 13.5% in 2013 to just 3.5% in 2023. The outlook is set to worsen, with further cuts announced in February 2025 to reduce UK ODA from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI by 2027. Education is expected to be among the hardest hit in this latest round of cuts.

At a time when the world’s most vulnerable children need support more than ever, we urge the UK Government to protect UK ODA against further cuts and urgently reprioritise funding for education – both as a life-saving humanitarian response and as an essential investment in long-term development.

As donors allow education budgets to fall, they are turning their backs on millions of children and undermining our shared future. The UK must recommit to defending every child’s right to learn.

Read UNICEF’s full release here.