UN Education Fund Warns 93 Million Children Out of School Amid Record Attacks on Learning Facilities
On the occasion of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, the United Nations global education fund, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), issued a grave warning regarding the alarming surge in violence targeted at educational institutions worldwide. According to the agency's latest report, more than 9,259 attacks on schools, universities, and educational personnel were recorded across 28 conflict-affected countries during 2024 and 2025—a dramatic 50 percent increase compared to the preceding two-year period.
The report highlights that escalating armed conflicts, eroding international norms, and the military occupation of classrooms have disrupted the education of over 258 million school-aged children across 87 countries. Among them, roughly 93 million children are currently deprived of schooling entirely. More than 10,600 students, teachers, and academic staff were killed, injured, abducted, or harmed in targeted strikes or crossfire during this timeframe.
ECW Executive Director Maysa Jalbout cautioned that prolonged educational disruption inflicts severe, long-term damage on children, increasing their vulnerability to child labor, forced recruitment by armed groups, and human trafficking. The United Nations and educational advocates called upon member states to enforce international humanitarian law, sign the Safe Schools Declaration, and prioritize funding for resilient, emergency-based education infrastructure to protect vulnerable youth in crisis regions.
