For the seventh year in a row, the number of children and young people out of school has increased. New UNESCO data released this morning in the latest GEM Report UNESCO show that the figure now stands at 273 million — roughly one in six children of school age worldwide.

Progress is not fast enough

Although countries have not reached their targets, this year’s GEM Report UNESCO emphasises that this does not mean the agenda has failed. The paradox is that, while out-of-school numbers continue to rise, enrolment has never been higher.

Since the year 2000, every minute, over 25 more children have been accessing school on average. There are 45% more children in pre-primary education, 30% more in primary and secondary education, and 161% more in post-secondary institutions — demonstrating real efforts worldwide.

Since 2015, the global education agenda has focused not only on access, but also on the quality of education systems. Data now show early signs that this is making a difference.

Globally, the share of children completing secondary education — not just enrolling — is steadily increasing, although it remains far from the universal education target set out in SDG 4. Over time, far fewer students are repeating years, a key precursor to dropout.

While progress is significant, it remains insufficient. The share of students completing upper secondary education has risen from 37% to 61% since 2000, but the world remains off track. At the current pace, the global target of 95% completion by 2030 will not be reached until 2105.

Learning from countries that have transformed

A focus on progress can be just as instructive as a focus on failure. Every story counts.

The 2026 report places country-level progress at its centre. It emphasises that understanding the lack of universal access requires recognising that countries started from very different positions and faced very different challenges.

Paths to progress matter. There is much to learn from countries that have expanded access rapidly:

Ethiopia’s primary enrolment rate rose from 18% in 1974 to 84% in 2024. China increased access to higher education from 7% to over 60% in just 25 years. Countries such as Madagascar, Togo, Morocco, Viet Nam, Georgia and Türkiye have reduced out-of-school rates for different age groups by at least 80% since 2000. Côte d’Ivoire has also halved its rates across all age groups.

Policy combinations matter

No single policy can address exclusion. Context is key. However, evidence highlights powerful combinations. In 14 African countries, making education both free and compulsory added over a year of schooling for girls and boys, compared to making it free alone.

Policy packages should go beyond education. Introducing child labour laws alongside free and compulsory education further increases gains. Laws addressing child marriage also help tackle barriers from multiple angles.

Access will not improve without a focus on equity

This requires better data to visualise exclusion. Yet only one in two countries disaggregates primary and secondary education data by wealth.

It also requires equitable financing that targets those most at risk. A new PEER platform maps the growing use of five types of financing mechanisms designed to support disadvantaged learners, feeding into a new Equitable Financing Index with country scores. While countries are increasingly adopting diversified funding approaches, the index shows that only 8% have mechanisms with a sufficiently strong equity focus.

Reinvigorating the agenda

The report calls on countries to set ambitious national targets aligned with the international education framework. This would strengthen national ownership and ensure that progress is properly recognised.

The COVID-19 pandemic, conflict — affecting one in six children worldwide — and persistent poverty have disrupted progress. These are among many factors showing that progress is neither linear nor guaranteed.

#YourStoryCounts

This is the message behind the campaign accompanying the report.

Every experience, every challenge, and every solution offers a lesson. No single perspective captures the full picture. But together, our stories, data and evidence can better guide the path forward.

Share what you know — what you have tried, what has worked, and what has not. Because when it comes to bringing 273 million children into school, every story counts.