Every child has the right to go to school and learn. But right? But right now, millions of children around the world never sit in a classroom. UNICEF, the United Nations organization that helps children, has studied this big problem. Here are the most important things they found (the latest numbers are from 2023–2025 reports).
How Many Children Are Out of School?
– About 250 million children and young people are completely out of school.
That means they are not in primary (elementary) or secondary (high) school at all.
– Another 300 million children go to school but do not learn basic reading and math.
So in total, more than half a billion children are missing a good education.
Where Is the Problem Biggest?
The countries with the most out-of-school children are usually poor or have wars and crises:
- Nigeria – over 20 million children out of school
- Pakistan – about 22 million
- Ethiopia
- Sudan (the war made things much worse)
- Afghanistan (especially girls, because of new rules)
In poor countries in Africa and Asia, almost 1 out of every 3 children in primary-school age does not go to school.
Why Are These Children Not in School?
UNICEF lists the main reasons:
– Poverty: Families cannot pay for uniforms, books, transport, or they need children to work or help at home.
– War and disasters: Schools are destroyed or closed, families run away, or it is not safe to travel to school.
– Child marriage and early pregnancy: Many girls are forced to marry young and leave school.
– Discrimination: Some groups (disabled children, refugees, very poor families, or certain tribes) are not allowed or welcomed in school.
– Not enough schools or teachers: In villages, the nearest school can be many kilometers away.
– COVID-19: The pandemic closed schools for a long time and many children never came back.
Girls Have It Harder
Worldwide, more girls than boys are out of school, especially when they become teenagers. In some countries, families choose to educate boys first. In Afghanistan right now, girls above grade 6 are not allowed to go to school at all.
What Happens When Children Don’t Go to School?
– They have fewer chances to get good jobs later.
– They are more likely to stay poor.
– Girls who don’t go to school often marry very young and have babies too early.
– Countries with many uneducated children grow slower and have more problems.
What Is Being Done?
UNICEF and many governments are trying to fix this:
– Building more schools and training teachers.
– Giving money or free meals so poor families send children to school.
– Special programs for girls, disabled children, and refugees.
– Using radio, TV, and phones to teach children when schools are closed.
– Asking governments to spend more money on education.
You Can Help Too!
Even small things make a difference:
– Donate to UNICEF or other children’s organizations.
– Tell your friends and family about the problem.
– If you are a student, be happy you can go to school and study hard!
Every child deserves an education. When all children go to school, the whole world becomes better, safer, and richer.
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