UNICEF has released an analysis warning that projected cuts in global education aid could force 6 million additional children out of school by the end of 2026, with one-third of them in humanitarian settings. Official Development Assistance for education is expected to fall by US$3.2 billion, a 24 per cent drop from 2023 levels. This decline could push the global number of out-of-school children from 272 million to 278 million. The sharpest impacts are projected in West and Central Africa, as well as in the Middle East and North Africa. Primary education is expected to be hit hardest, with an estimated one-third reduction in funding, potentially reducing lifetime earnings for affected children by US$164 billion. Cuts may also undermine school feeding programmes, girls’ education initiatives, and the ability of governments to support teacher development and monitor outcomes.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How should India’s education and development planning adapt to the risk of declining global aid flows, especially for vulnerable groups and regions dependent on external support, and what financing models could mitigate such systemic shocks?
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