Six million children could be forced out of school by the end of 2026 due to global education aid cuts

A new report by UNICEF reveals that aid going towards global education is facing a $3.2 billion cut by the end of 2026, threatening the future of millions of children worldwide.

The cuts to the aid budget for donors including USAID and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will result in a 24% drop in education funding worldwide. This will leave 6 million more children, 30% of which live in crisis-affected countries, out of school by the end of 2026 and harm the quality of education for 290 million students.

These figures add more weight to the urgent case for children to be protected from aid cuts by the UK government.

Children in Africa and the Middle East face the largest impact, with millions of children facing disruption or cancellation of their education. Countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Mali face steep setbacks, with enrolment losses of 4%, translating to 340,000 and 180,000 children missing out on their education respectively.

Children who remain in school will not be spared. ​Cuts to system-strengthening initiatives could affect 290 million students across 45 countries. ​This decline in quality will have long-term repercussions, deepening the learning crisis in low- and -middle-income countries, where currently, on average, only one in ten children aged ten can read and understand a simple text.

These cuts represent a lost opportunity to tackle global poverty. Not only do they deprive millions of children of school access, protection and nutrition, they threaten future economic growth and social development. Over the last 50 years, investment in education has contributed to over 50% of global economic growth. Clearly this is certainly an investment worth making.

Vulnerable groups at risk

UNICEF’s research also found that:

• Primary education could face a 34% ($856 million) cut, threatening foundational learning, with potential lifetime losses of $164 billion for affected children. This will inevitably reinforce the cycles of poverty in which these children are trapped, reducing their chances of economic prosperity and reinforcing their dependence on international aid.
• School feeding programmes are potentially facing a 57% ($190 million) cut, taking away many children’s only nutritious meal for a day, impacting their health, development and ability to learn.
• A projected 28% ($123 million) drop could have a massive impact on gender equality progress in least developed countries, threatening girls’ enrolment in schools and, therefore, equal access to social and economic opportunities.
• Funding cuts for education in emergencies are projected at 24% ($745 million) with crisis-hit countries such as Haiti, Palestine and Somalia losing over 10% of their national education budget.
• An estimated 20% ($500 million) cut will impact directly on teacher development, policymaking and data systems. This will have a lasting impact on education systems due to a loss of skilled educators and gaps in data, making a recovery less likely even if funding returns in the future.

The amount of Official Development Assistance (ODA) spent on education has fallen from 11% (£968 million) in 2016 to only 3% (£335 million) in 2023.Despite an increase to £705 million (6.26%) in 2024, ODA for global education is projected to be cut again by 42% in 2025.

This will result in the closure of many transformational programmes – like the FCDO flagship programme on girls’ education in South Sudan, which resulted in quadrupling enrolment in schools. The FCDO’s own Equality Impact Assessment of the cuts states that an

‘Adverse impact on children will be likely, including the most vulnerable and children with disability’.

Reversing the decline

The consequences of these cuts are stark, but there is still time to change course.  Protecting education means protecting lives and securing a resilient, peaceful future for children, families, and communities. Here is what the UK government must do to protect children from cuts to education:

• Restore funding for children to at least 25% of the aid budget and dedicate 15% of bilateral aid towards education, prioritising children who are denied their rights.
• Prioritise education in emergencies, as both a lifesaving and life-changing intervention.
• Focus on early childhood and primary education. ODA should concentrate on foundational learning, where returns are highest.

Cuts to global education represent a broken promise to children, especially those in the lowest income and crisis-affected regions. ​ Without urgent action, millions of children risk being left behind, vulnerable to exploitation, child labour, and trafficking.

Without urgent action, a massive opportunity to drive global economic growth will be lost, as investment in children is critical in developing the human capital that help our societies grow and flourish.