Global Out-of-School Population
The latest report from UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Team marks rise in the global out-of-school population. As of 2025, the figure stands at 272 million, an increase of over 21 million from previous estimates. This alarming trend raises concerns about educational access and equity worldwide.
Key Statistics and Trends
The report indicates that 11% of primary school-age children, 15% of lower secondary adolescents, and 31% of upper secondary youths are out of school. The increase is attributed to two main factors – updated enrolment data and revised UN population estimates. New data reveals that 8 million of the increase stems from new enrolments, while 13 million is due to population adjustments.
Impact of Conflicts
Conflicts affect school enrolment and attendance. The report suggests that the impact of conflicts on out-of-school populations is often underestimated. Disruptions caused by conflicts hinder data collection, leading to inaccuracies in understanding the true scale of the issue. For instance, the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan has left 1.4 million girls without schooling.
Methodological Approaches
The out-of-school model employs multiple data sources, including administrative records, surveys, and censuses. This approach aims to create consistent regional and global averages. However, the reliance on survey data means that only a portion of the increased school-age population is classified as out of school. Administrative data, on the other hand, can lead to a more increase in reported out-of-school figures.
Future Projections
Despite efforts to meet educational targets, the report forecasts that countries will be off-track by 75 million relative to their national goals by 2025. This deviation is particularly pronounced among primary and lower secondary school-age populations, with a projected shortfall of four percentage points. For upper secondary school-age youths, the shortfall is expected to reach six percentage points.
Challenges in Data Collection
The report emphasises that assumptions about stable school-age population trends can falter during emergencies. In times of crisis, attendance patterns may change abruptly, and data collection becomes increasingly difficult. This complicates the accurate assessment of school participation and can lead to underestimations of out-of-school populations.
| Related | |
|---|---|
