OUR EDUCATION WORK
FOR CHILDREN
Why is education important for children?
Education is vital for children because when they are denied the chance to learn, they are far more likely to remain trapped in cycles of poverty. They also face greater risks of other rights violations, such as forced labour, early marriage, or recruitment into armed groups.
Every child has the right to an education — whatever their ability, location, gender, or ethnicity. We are working to make sure all children can access a quality education.
Right now, this right is still out of reach for too many. There are currently 272 million children globally who are out of school. But together with our global education supporters, partners and communities, we can change this — and we are changing it.
What is UNICEF doing to keep children in school?
In 2024, together with partners, we worked in 142 countries to help keep children in school and learning, by making education more accessible and inclusive — particularly in emergencies.
- With UNICEF support, 17.5 million children received essential learning materials to keep their education on track.
- We enabled 18 million children to learn through digital platforms and advanced climate education in 90 countries, helping them continue learning during conflict or natural disasters.
- Delivered more than 60,000 School-in-a-Box kits, 11,000 temporary classroom tents, and assistive supplies for 2 million children during emergencies.
- Worked with governments in 73% of countries to make schools safe, gender-equitable, and inclusive for children with disabilities.
- Integrated mental health and psychosocial support into education in more than 80 countries.
A donation from you means more children in school and learning
We’re helping children learn
In 2024, we supported 26 million out‑of‑school children and adolescents to gain access to education.
Inclusive education for every child
We’re committed to making inclusive education a reality—and we’re innovating with new technology. One example is our Accessible Digital Textbooks for All, developed with partners. These digital materials are designed to be available, affordable, and accessible for every child.
The textbooks adapt to individual needs: voiceovers for children who are blind or have low vision, sign language for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and plenty of interactive activities for children with intellectual or learning disabilities.
Inclusive learning can have a huge, life‑changing impact on a child. Take Ari, diagnosed with Auditory Neuropathy as a baby — a condition that prevents sound from travelling from ear to brain. Accessible Digital Textbooks ensure Ari’s disability doesn’t limit his learning. Instead, he can learn and express himself in the way that suits him best.
Our education plan for children
By 2029, we want 350 million more children and young people to be learning and building the skills they need for the future — by helping them stay in school, improve their learning and gain essential life and work skills.
