Education is a fundamental right for every child, not a privilege. Yet for far too many children and young people around the world, that right remains unfulfilled. The path into and through schooling continues to be blocked by persistent barriers, deep inequalities and growing demographic pressures. The latest global education data from UNESCO’s 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 Scorecard shows that an estimated 273 million children, adolescents and youth are out of school worldwide. Education exclusion affects all stages of learning: of the 273 million children and youth not in school, 79 million are of primary-school age.

The drivers of this exclusion are complex and interconnected. Poverty, displacement, conflict, weak education systems and entrenched social inequalities all intersect to keep children out of learning. Children living in fragile and
low-income contexts face some of the highest risks of exclusion, while gender-based and disability-related inequalities further limit opportunities for the most marginalised.

Beyond access, educational quality remains an urgent concern: many children who are in school still fail to achieve basic literacy and numeracy, signalling that attendance alone is insufficient for meaningful learning. Without access to inclusive and quality education, children face lifelong disadvantages.

They will be less likely to have secure livelihoods, more vulnerable to exploitation and economic shocks, and have fewer opportunities to participate fully in their communities. That’s why we and our delivery partners work relentlessly alongside governments, community groups and local educators to tackle both the barriers to school entry and the factors that undermine learning once children are inside classrooms. From expanding access in the most marginalised regions to
strengthening teaching quality and community engagement, the initiatives in this report aim to close gaps and create durable change. We are proud to work in partnership with Education Above All, aligning our efforts with global
commitments to protect and advance the right to education for every child.

Enrol Out-of-School Children project – Burkina Faso, Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal and Senegal:

This project in partnership with EAA and BuildOn supports out-of-school children to have access into school in some of the hardest-to-reach areas across Burkina Faso, Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal and Senegal. It does this by focusing on:
o Access to Education: The primary focus is to get out-of-school children into classrooms, breaking down barriers to education and enrolment.
o School Construction: In collaboration with local communities, constructing schools in underserved and remote areas increasing access to education.
o Community Engagement: The project actively involves community members in the construction process, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment to the schools’ success.
o Teacher Training: Trained teachers are provided to ensure the quality of education, enhancing the learning experience for students.
o Learning Materials: Quality materials and resources are supplied, ensuring that students have the necessary tools for their education.
o Support Systems: The project establishes support systems to address various educational needs, such as mentorship programmes, counselling, and extracurricular activities.
o Holistic Development: The initiative aims to also create a conducive and holistic learning environment for children.
o Multilevel Support: Collaboration between local and international stakeholders underscores the commitment to improving education.

Past Projects

India: There are 6 million out-of-school children in India. While progress has been made towards universal elementary education, India’s education system still faces significant challenges – exacerbated by Covid – including high dropout rates, low-level learning outcomes, gender disparities and poverty.
We are contributing to a six-year project in which Education Above All and Educate Girls, an NGO, based in India, provide access to 232,500 out-of-school children in rural, remote and tribal communities across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Our contribution has helped children like Monica, who had return to leave school after having to help in the housedrop out when her father suffered a mental breakdown.ill health. You can read how the project helped her back into school in our annual report.

Zambia: There are about 495,000 out-of-school primary-aged children in Zambia. Barriers to education include long distances to school, poverty, early/forced marriage, gender discrimination and lack of facilities for special needs.
We are contributing to a project in which Education Above All is co-funding partners with Zambia Open Community Schools, a national NGO, to enrol 175,000 out-of-school children throughout the country.

This work helps children like Nasilele get back in the classroom learning the skills she needs to build a brighter future after she had to drop out of school to help take care of her sister’s children. You can read how the project helped her back into school in our annual report.

Ethiopia: We are supporting a project in Gambella, a region with large numbers of out-of-school children and refugees. Barriers to education include refugee status, forced marriage, lack of school infrastructure, child labour and poor quality education. Our grant is purchasing education kits, contributing to the provision of educational materials in several refugee camps and host community schools.
This is part of a project in which Education Above All [link to Strategic partners] is partnering with Save the Children to enrol over 35,088 out-of-school children in schools.