UNESCO GEM Report 2026: 273 Million Children Out of School
Why in the news
UNESCO published the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2026, titled Access and Equity: Countdown to 2030, in March 2026. It warns that the world is far off track on school completion.
Key facts
- Out of school (2024): 273 million, roughly one in six school-age children worldwide.
- Extra exclusion: 13 million in ten conflict-affected countries, mainly West Asia.
- Projection: 95% completion as late as 2105, 75 years past the 2030 SDG 4 deadline.
- Theme of this edition: Access and Equity.
Completion rates
| Level | Earlier | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | 77% | 88% |
| Lower secondary | 60% | 78% |
| Upper secondary | 37% | 61% |
Growth reported elsewhere in the report: post-secondary education 161% and pre-primary 45% (period not given). Post-secondary growth hides inequity, since those who reach it are already the least disadvantaged.
Background
- UNESCO: UN specialised agency founded 1945, headquartered in Paris; covers education, science, culture and communication; India is a member
- GEM Report: independent annual report by a team hosted by UNESCO; tracks SDG 4; each edition has a theme
- SDG 4: one of 17 SDGs adopted in 2015 under the 2030 Agenda; seeks inclusive, equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all by 2030
- Conflict and schooling: closures, displacement, destroyed infrastructure and trauma disrupt education
Significance
- The 2105 date points to a multi-generational miss of SDG 4
- Conflict is a structural barrier: instability directly undermines global education targets
- Next frontier: equitable completion, especially for girls, minorities and conflict-affected groups
- Early childhood education is seen as a high-return investment
India’s link
- India’s large school-age population means its out-of-school numbers and completion rates shape global statistics
- Responses named: PM POSHAN, RTE Act 2009 and NIPUN Bharat
Exam angle
- Report: GEM Report 2026, theme Access and Equity, by UNESCO.
- Numbers: 273 million, 13 million, 2105, 2030.
- SDG 4 is the education goal; 17 SDGs adopted in 2015.