Since the World Education Forum in Dakar in 2000, the global community has made important progress expanding access to education. Completion rates have steadily improved worldwide, with primary school completion rising from 85% to 88% between 2015 and 2024, and increases in lower and upper secondary levels as well. In Sub-Saharan Africa, primary completion rose from 47% in 2000 to 68% in 2024, though secondary completion remains lower.
However, despite these gains, recent years have seen troubling setbacks. Globally, there are 272 million children and young people out-of-school, a significant increase driven by ongoing conflicts, and rising inequalities. Also, an estimated one-in-three children in conflict or fragile countries were out of school in 2024, highlighting the urgent need for education in emergencies.
At the same time, global aid for education is projected to fall by a quarter between 2023 and 2027, threatening to stall progress and widen disparities further. As the 2030 deadline for Sustainable Development Goal 4 approaches, urgent and sustained action is needed to build on past achievements, address persistent inequalities, and ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all children and youth.