Friday 20 March 2026
Statement by Bambos Charalambous, Chair for APPG on Global Education
Yesterday’s announcement on FCDO ODA allocations by the Foreign Secretary offers a concerning indication of the depth of impact global education will face as our Official Development Assistance reduces to 0.3% of GNI.
As Chair for the APPG on Global Education, I celebrate the Government’s commitment to maintain its support for Education Cannot Wait, the world’s fund for education in emergencies, at £80m over four years. As conflicts and climate crises proliferate, it is right to focus attention on ensuring that the consequences for children’s lives and futures are minimised.
But millions of children face barriers to education outside of conflict zones as well. 272 million children are out of school, and 7 in 10 children in low-income countries cannot read a simple text with understanding by age 10. The cuts to the aid budget will mean fewer children have that opportunity to go to school and learn how to read and count, especially in Africa, where UK support will be slashed by almost £900m by 2028-29.
As we await further details on how allocations will be divided by issue, I urge the Government to continue strong support for the Global Partnership for Education, a critical fund for strengthening education systems through genuine partnership, and to preserve bilateral funding delivering global public goods for education and impact in areas where the UK has a unique offer, like foundational learning.
In the interest of our world’s future peace, security and prosperity, as well as the UK’s global relationships, is important that the Government quickly move to return to spending 0.7% of GNI.
Notes:
- Written Statement by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper with ODA programme allocations 2026/27-2028/29.
- Press Release: Foreign Secretary sets out new innovative development reforms