Education at Risk: UNICEF Warns of Global Crisis Amid Aid Cuts.

photo by kassoum_kone on pixabay.com

The world is facing a looming education crisis as international funding for schools is set to shrink dramatically. UNICEF warns that by 2026, education aid could drop by $3.2 billion, a 24% decrease compared to 2023. This reduction could leave an additional 6 million children without access to school, bringing the total number of out-of-school children to 278 million, roughly equivalent to closing every primary school in both Germany and Italy.

The consequences would be particularly severe in already vulnerable regions. In West and Central Africa, nearly 1.9 million children could lose access to education, while in the Middle East and North Africa, another 1.4 million may be excluded. Fragile countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Mali risk seeing enrolment rates drop by 4%, depriving hundreds of thousands of children of a fundamental human right.

Primary education, the foundation for literacy, numeracy, and essential life skills, is expected to bear the brunt of the cuts, with funding projected to decline by roughly one-third. This would exacerbate the global learning crisis and could translate into $164 billion in lost future earnings for affected children.

The impact goes beyond academics. In humanitarian contexts, the closure of learning centers would strip millions of children of safe spaces, increasing their exposure to exploitation, child labour, and trafficking. Vital school-based services such as feeding programs, often the only source of nutritious meals for many children, risk being slashed by more than 50%. Girls’ education, already precarious in many regions, would be disproportionately affected, threatening progress toward gender equality and limiting opportunities for empowerment.

Even children who remain in school would see the quality of their education deteriorate. Overstretched systems may lack resources to train teachers, monitor student outcomes, or implement effective policies, potentially affecting 290 million students worldwide and perpetuating cycles of inequality.

This is not just an economic problem; it is a violation of fundamental human rights. Education is recognized as a universal right under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4), and it is essential for dignity, equality, social participation, and protection. Denying millions of children access to quality education undermines their future and threatens the stability and development of entire societies.

UNICEF urges the international community to respond urgently by directing at least 50% of education aid to the least developed countries, protecting funding in crisis-affected areas, recognizing education as a life-saving intervention, prioritizing foundational learning, simplifying global financing mechanisms, and expanding innovative funding approaches. As UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell reminds us: “Every dollar cut from education is not just a budget decision, it is a child’s future at stake.”

Investing in education is not an expense, it is a commitment to protecting human rights, preserving dignity, and safeguarding the future of millions of children worldwide. Without immediate action, millions of young lives and opportunities will be lost, and the promise of universal education may remain unfulfilled.

Sources:

• UNICEF Global funding cuts could force 6 million more children out of school in the coming year. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/global-funding-cuts-could-force-6-million-more-children-out-school-coming-year

• UNICEF Education aid cuts: A broken promise to children. https://www.unicef.org/documents/education-aid-cuts

• Reuters: UNICEF projects 20% drop in 2026 funding after US cuts. https://www.reuters.com/world/unicef-projects-20-drop-2026-funding-after-us-cuts-2025-04-15/

written by Sara Maggetto