UNICEF report: 264 million children out of school globally
About 264 million children are out of school in the world, according to new data from the UNESCO
Institute for Statistics (UIS). The new analysis - calculated using UNESCO's literacy rates in 27 emergency countries featured in UNICEF's 2018 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal - is released ahead of Global Partnership for Education Replenishment Conference in Dakar, Senegal.
The analysis also notes that girls and young women are at the biggest disadvantage when it comes to reading and writing, with 33 per cent of them in emergency countries failing to learn even the basics, compared to 24 per cent of boys.
Armed conflict poses another major barrier to education. In conflict-affected areas of 24 countries in total, some 27 million children between the ages of 6 and 14 have no chance to attend school.
According to the report, around 349 billion USD is required annually to ensure all children in emergency countries to attend school.