With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries pledged to achieve universal completion of primary and secondary education by 2030. Central to this promise is inclusion- no target will be considered met unless it is achieved by all. With only five years left to achieve the SDGs, millions of children and youth remain excluded. Despite earlier progress, the number of out-of-school children is rising again, reaching 272 million in 2023, and potentially 285 million when factoring in the 10 most significant crisis-affected countries.
Upper secondary education faces the greatest challenge, with 130 million young people out of school, nearly half of the global out-of-school population. Also, in the poorest nations, 36% of students are out of school compared to just 3% in the richest. Nearly three-quarters of all out-of-school children live in Central and Southern Asia (34%) and sub-Saharan Africa (39%). An estimated139 million boys are now out of school in greater numbers than girls (133 million). These gaps are driven by inadequate financing, conflict, displacement, inequality, climate shocks, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Countries are falling behind on critical inclusion targets such as training pre-primary teachers, expanding early childhood education, and achieving reading proficiency by the end of primary school.
Achieving SDG 4 demands a shift toward policies that are inclusive, equitable, and equal, addressing different needs fairly while guaranteeing the same rights and opportunities for all. Interventions must prioritise the most marginalised children to ensure that no one is left behind.