Global learning loss threatens entire generations

That Breaking Barriers: Understanding Educational Exclusion in Crisis report by Education Can’t Wait (ECW)the UN’s global fund for education in crisis, provides the clearest picture yet of the escalating educational emergency occurring in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Among the affected children, 93 million have dropped out of school. Millions more are still enrolled but unable to learn because of conditions that hinder progress and increase the likelihood of them dropping out of school.

For many children, being in a classroom no longer guarantees an education.

Concentrated educational needs

The report found that education needs are becoming increasingly concentrated in countries with the world’s most severe emergencies.

Of the 182 million crisis-affected children living in the 20 most severe crisis contexts, 74 million are out of school, or nearly 80 percent of all crisis-affected children out of school identified in this research.

The researchers warn that exclusion is not just about access.

In many crisis situations, children fall behind in basic skills early on and never recover.

Fewer than one in 10 children demonstrate basic reading proficiency in the early grades in some contexts, with learning gaps widening over time and ultimately becoming a barrier to remaining in school.

Unbalanced load

Children who are forced to leave their homes face the greatest challenges.

Analysis from Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Somalia found that children who were refugees had lower promotion rates, slower educational progress and were significantly more likely to have age overages for their grades compared to their non-refugee peers.

Additionally, girls, refugees and children with disabilities face enormous obstacles in continuing their education, while conflict appears to deepen and prolong learning loss.

By Grade 6, reading proficiency was only 30 percent in conflict-affected countries, compared with 47 percent in countries primarily affected by socio-economic crises and 63 percent in countries primarily affected by natural disasters.

Prioritize education

But the report also shows resilience. Despite insecurity and financial hardship, families continue to prioritize education.

Financial constraints and conflict-related school closures account for nearly 80 percent of school dropouts. This shows that children leave school not because their families no longer value education, but because circumstances leave them with no other choice.

“Support for education in crisis is the insurance policy that families, governments and donors need to protect their long-term investments in education and economic opportunity,” said ECW Director Maysa Jalbout.

He warned that conflict and climate change were reversing years of progress and called for urgent investment to prevent educational losses from becoming permanent.

Education Cannot Wait says it has reached more than 14 million children affected by the crisis since its founding and aims to reach another 10 million children by 2030.