Official Development Aid (ODA) for education should fall from $ 3.2 billion – a drop of 24% compared to 2023 – with only three donor governments representing almost 80% of the cuts.
Such a decline push the number of children excluding schooling around the world from 272 million to 278 million, Unicef says – the equivalent of the closure of each primary school in Germany and combined Italy.
“Each reduced dollar of education is not only a budgetary decision, it is the future of a child in the balance,” said UNICEF director general Catherine Russell.
Children in crisis have struck the hardest
The heaviest impact is expected in the already vulnerable regions. West and central Africa could see 1.9 million children lose access to school, while 1.4 million more could be pushed through the Middle East and North Africa.
In total, 28 countries should lose at least a quarter of education assistance on which they count. Côte d’Ivoire and Mali face some of the steepest risks, inscriptions that should fall by 340,000 and 180,000 students respectively.
Primary education will be the hardest, funding should drop by a third party. UNICEF warns that this could deepen the global learning crisis and cost children affected about $ 164 billion in lifelong income.
In humanitarian contexts, cuts could be devastating. In the response of Rohingyas refugees, 350,000 children risk losing access to basic schooling permanently.
Children moved to a classroom in Baghdad, Iraq.
Call to protect education
The crisis will also threaten vital services. School food programs – sometimes the only reliable meal of a child – could see the funding of half reduced, while support for the education of girls is likely to shrink. At least 290 million children who remain in classrooms could also face a drop in the quality of learning.
UNICEF is to call donors to direct at least half of all education assistance in countries least developed humanitarian funding and prioritize the first years and primary schooling. It also urges reforms to make funding more efficient and lasting.
“Education, especially in an emergency, often serves as a rescue buoy,” said Russell. “Investing in children’s education is one of the best investments in the future – for everyone.”
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