Education

The near universalization of primary schooling is one of the great global achievements of past decades. In the early 1950s, some 50 per cent of primary school-aged children worldwide were out of school. Today, that figure stands at 11 per cent. Still, the most marginalized children remain cut off from primary education – deprived of their right to…, UNICEF's response, Children at the playground of the primary school of Gado Badzere, in the east of Cameroon. Children smile on the playground of the primary school of Gado Badzere, in the east of Cameroon. The Sustainable Development Goals call for all children to complete free, equitable and quality primary education, leading to relevant and effective learning…, Resources, Publisher Title UNICEF Tracking Progress on Foundational Learning RTI International Science of Teaching website World Bank Learning Poverty briefs World Bank Cost-Effective Approaches to Improve Global Learning UNESCO, McKinsey & Company Remedial Education Toolkit  , Learn more

Overview  |  What we do What we do  |  Reports and resources Reports  |  Data and insights Data  |  News and features News A child’s right to education entails the right to learn. Yet, for too many children across the globe, schooling does not lead to learning. Over 600 million children worldwide are unable to attain minimum proficiency levels in…, What we do, Education is a basic human right. In 147 countries around the world, UNICEF works to provide quality learning opportunities that prepare children and adolescents with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive. We focus on: Equitable access: Access to quality education and skills development must be equitable and inclusive for all children and…, Reports, Data and insights, data icon Our data research icon Our research innovation icon Our insights, Latest

Adolescents (children aged 10–19) are growing up in a transforming world. Technology, migration, climate change and conflict are reshaping society, forcing people across the globe to adapt to unexpected changes in their lives and work. To keep up, adolescents  must be able to seize opportunities and confront challenges. They need education and…, Skills needed for success in school, life and work, Foundational skills: Foundational skills, namely literacy and numeracy, are essential for further learning, productive employment and civic engagement. Digital skills: Digital literacy enables children and young people to use and understand technology, search for and manage information, create and share content, collaborate, communicate, build…, UNICEF’s work to address the global learning and skills crisis, Because skills development takes place at different stages in life, UNICEF programming is anchored in a multiple-pathways approach that helps us meet children where they are. We work closely with governments and partners so that every 5-year-old is ready to learn, every 10-year-old is ready to succeed in school, and every 18-year-old is prepared…, More from UNICEF, Resources, 'Learning to earning" for displaced youth - Unlocking the power of digital technologies This report, funded in part by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands’ PROSPECTS partnership, provides an overview of how digital technologies are being used to support youth’s transition from school to work, ‘learning to earning’, in displaced and…

Education systems are complex. Getting all children in school and learning requires alignment across families, educators and decision makers. It requires shared goals, and national policies that put learning at the centre. It also requires data collection and regular monitoring to help policymakers identify what’s working, who’s benefiting, and…, Innovation in education, Innovation in education is about more than new technology. It’s about solving a real problem in a fresh, simple way to promote equity and improve learning. Innovation in education comes in many forms. Programmes, services, processes, products and partnerships can all enhance education outcomes in innovative ways – like customized games on solar-…, UNICEF’s work to strengthen education systems, UNICEF works with communities, schools and Governments to build strong, innovative education systems that enhance learning for all children. We support data collection and analysis to help Governments assess progress across a range of outcomes and strengthen national Education Management Information Systems. We also develop comprehensive…, More from UNICEF, Resources, Education Sector Analysis Guidelines: Volume 1 ( English , French , Spanish , Portuguese and Russian ) These guidelines support ministries of education and their partners in undergoing sector analysis and developing education sector plans. Education Sector Analysis Guidelines: Volume 2 ( English , French , Spanish , Portuguese and Russian ) These…

Wars, epidemics and natural disasters spare no children. More countries are gripped by conflict today than at any time in the past thirty years. Many of these crises span entire childhoods. In countries affected by emergencies, children lose their loved ones and homes. They lose access to safe drinking water, health care and food. They lose safety…, A lifeline, For children in emergencies, education is about more than the right to learn. Schools protect children from the physical dangers around them – including abuse, exploitation and recruitment into armed groups. They provide children with lifesaving food, water, health care and hygiene supplies. And they offer psychosocial support, giving children…, UNICEF’s work to deliver education in emergencies, UNICEF works to provide uninterrupted education for every child affected by humanitarian crisis – especially girls, children with disabilities, internally displaced children, refugees and migrants. We help children develop skills to cope with the trauma of crisis, and supply them with learning spaces that are safe, child-friendly and equipped with…, More from UNICEF, Resources, Checklist of key considerations to promote effective and equitable learning recovery In line with the Framework for Reopening Schools, UNICEF has developed a checklist of key considerations and enablers for Ministries of Education to reach those who have been left behind. It provides practical examples on how to identify those who have been left…

There are an estimated 240 million children with disabilities worldwide. Like all children, children with disabilities have ambitions and dreams for their futures. Like all children, they need quality education to develop their skills and realize their full potential. Yet, children with disabilities are often overlooked in policymaking, limiting…, Getting all children in school and learning, Inclusive education is the most effective way to give all children a fair chance to go to school, learn and develop the skills they need to thrive. Inclusive education means all children in the same classrooms, in the same schools. It means real learning opportunities for groups who have traditionally been excluded – not only children with…, UNICEF’s work to promote inclusive education, To close the education gap for children with disabilities, UNICEF supports government efforts to foster and monitor inclusive education systems. Our work focuses on four key areas: Advocacy: UNICEF promotes inclusive education in discussions, high-level events and other forms of outreach geared towards policymakers and the general public.…, More from UNICEF, Resources, Fixing the Broken Promise of Education for All This report draws on national studies to examine why millions of children continue to be denied the fundamental right to primary education. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopts a broad categorization of persons with…

Investing in girls’ education transforms communities, countries and the entire world. Girls who receive an education are less likely to marry young and more likely to lead healthy, productive lives. They earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families. Girls’…, When we invest in girls’ secondary education, The lifetime earnings of girls dramatically increase National growth rates rise Child marriage rates decline Child mortality rates fall Maternal mortality rates fall Child stunting drops, Why are girls out of school?, Despite evidence demonstrating how central girls’ education is to development, gender disparities in education persist. Around the world, 129 million girls are out of school, including 32 million of primary school age, 30 million of lower-secondary school age, and 67 million of upper-secondary school age. In countries affected by conflict, girls…, Gender equality in education, Gender-equitable education systems empower girls and boys and promote the development of life skills – like self-management, communication, negotiation and critical thinking – that young people need to succeed. They close skills gaps that perpetuate pay gaps, and build prosperity for entire countries. Gender-equitable education systems can…, UNICEF’s work to promote girls’ education, UNICEF works with communities, Governments and partners to remove barriers to girls’ education and promote gender equality in education – even in the most challenging settings. Because investing in girls’ secondary education is one of the most transformative development strategies, we prioritize efforts that enable all girls to complete secondary…, More from UNICEF, Resources, Advancing Girls' Education and Gender Equality through Digital Learning Advancing Girls' Education and Gender Equality through Digital Learning This brief note highlights how UNICEF will advance inclusive and transformative digital technology to enhance girls’ learning and skills development for work and life. Reimagining girls' education…