More than a decade ago, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser founded the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and implemented programmes to facilitate the realisation of the right to education for everyone. This year, the Foundation was commissioned by Her Highness Sheikha Moza to undertake a moment of reflection on our progress and answer the key question: why isn’t the needle moving in the way it should?

Through the eyes of two authors, and years of research and practice, this paper tackles that question in relation to out of school children (OOSC) at the primary level and to the protection of education against attack. Two programmes, Educate A Child (EAC) and Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC), respectively, were initiated and mandated to address these global challenges. Their leaders reflect on what is known, successes and what remains to be done.

The world remains an immensely difficult place for the vulnerable and disadvantaged to gain access to, and remain in, education, due to many complex and often interlinked barriers. The data indicate that we have a long way to go before education is available for all and education is protected against attacks everywhere. Nevertheless, the authors show that progress is possible and that there are solutions at hand, if we have the courage to pursue them. A decade after its establishment, EAA remains resolute and dedicated to its central mission: to protect, safeguard, and enable access to quality education for the world’s most marginalised children and peoples.