At a time of global instability, education remains one of the most powerful tools for fostering peace, economic growth, and gender equality.

As the Send My Friend to School Coalition— a UK civil society coalition of international development NGOs, teachers’ unions, and charities —we are calling on the UK Government to reaffirm its role as a global leader in education by maintaining its funding for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

UK support for education in humanitarian crises

In the face of unprecedented humanitarian demand, when one in five children globally is living in or fleeing conflict zones, we welcome the UK’s commitment to provide £80 million to Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies.

Funding to meet the pressing educational needs of children in fragile and conflict-affected states is critical.

Education is essential for peace, prosperity, and long-term development

However, education is also a strategic investment in peace, stability, and long-term development.

The reduction in aid spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI to increase military spending has resulted in a decision that will effectively end UK bilateral funding for education.

Over the coming three years, compared with 2023-2025, this will mean an estimated £600 million reduction in UK bilateral aid to education.

This is a loss of vital direct financial support to partner country governments. This funding has historically been used to support low-income countries achieve the global education goals, including by supporting teacher training, school construction, and getting marginalized children into school and learning.

Multilateral funding is more important than ever

In this context, multilateral funding for education is more important than ever.

The UK Government is currently prioritizing Official Development Assistance (ODA) through multilateral organizations and looking for innovative methods that that unlock additional resources.

GPE offers exactly this kind of approach. A UK contribution to GPE does not act in isolation; it catalyzes financing from other governments, development banks, multiplying the impact of every pound invested.

Evidence also shows that joining the partnership has encouraged partner country governments to increase their own funding of education.

GPE offers a clear way to deliver on the UK’s aim of strengthening national education systems, supporting partner government leadership, at the same time as delivering on the UK’s wider  priorities such as responding to the climate crisis, building resilience to conflict and crises, advancing gender equality, and creating healthier, more equal societies and prosperous societies.

Since 2021, with £430 million in UK funding, GPE has helped enrol 5 million more girls in school, train 4.7 million teachers, and support 372 million children with better education.

This year, GPE seeks to raise billions in grants and innovative financing for the period 2026-2030 to help nearly 750 million children get a better education in 96 countries.

UK support for GPE will advance the government’s development priorities and accelerate educational progress

The UK’s decision to maintain its contribution to Education Cannot Wait has already encouraged other donors to step up. A maintenance pledge to GPE would send a similarly strong signal to other donors.

Although a significant cut in real terms, maintaining UK funding by pledging $430 million would enable GPE to train 1.15 million teachers, allow 11.49 million more girls to attend school, and improve the quality of education for over 84.3 million children by 2030, directly advancing the UK’s international development priorities.

This will also send a clear message that, despite the cuts in UK development assistance  and the end of bilateral support for education, the UK remains committed to global education and to working through multilateral mechanisms to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4: inclusive and equitable quality education for all.