Date: November 3, 2024
By: Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Professor, SCERT, Delhi
According to UNESCO’s 2024 Global Education Monitoring Report, 251 million children and young people are out of school worldwide. This is despite decades of progress in education access and international commitments.
Here are some key findings from the report:
Regional disparities
33% of school-aged children in low-income countries are out of school, compared to 3% in high-income countries.
Sub-Saharan Africa
More than half of all out-of-school children are in this region.
Education financing
4 in 10 countries spend less than 15% of their total public expenditure and less than 4% of GDP on education.
Cost to the global economy
UNESCO estimates that the cost to the global economy of school drop-out and education gaps is $10,000 billion a year by 2030.
Social damage
Gaps in basic skills are associated with a 69% increase in early pregnancies among young girls.
India is facing a serious problem: about 55 million children are out of school. This shocking number comes from a new report by UNESCO, which shows that globally, there are 251 million young people not getting an education. This includes 71 million kids of primary school age and 57 million adolescents who should be in secondary school.(https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1156366#:~:text=Despite%20decades%20of%20educational%20progress,percent%20in%20nearly%2010%20years)
India has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, with Nigeria and Pakistan following behind. This raises urgent questions about why so many children aren’t going to school and what can be done to change this situation.
Several reasons contribute to this crisis. Many families in India struggle with economic challenges and often prioritize work over education. In rural areas, schools can be far away, making it difficult for children to attend. Additionally, cultural beliefs may discourage families from sending their kids to school, particularly girls.
Despite some progress in getting more children enrolled since 2015, the number of out-of-school kids hasn’t changed much—only a small decrease of 3 million in eight years. This indicates that more needs to be done to tackle the issue effectively.
Education experts are sounding the alarm. “These numbers are alarming,” one expert stated. “If we don’t act quickly, we risk trapping a whole generation in poverty. Education is key to improving lives and helping communities grow.”
To address this issue, the Indian government has introduced the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to make education more accessible for everyone. But policies alone won’t solve the problem. Communities need to come together to support education and encourage families to prioritize schooling.
Some ideas to help include mobile schools that travel to remote areas and digital learning platforms that can reach kids who can’t go to traditional schools. It’s also important for government agencies, non-profit organizations, and local communities to work together to provide the resources families need.
As India confronts this education crisis, the call for action is clear. We must ensure that every child has the chance to learn and grow. Investing in education today means creating a better future for everyone.
In summary, the time for change is now. By focusing on getting all children into schools, we can help transform lives and build a stronger, more educated society for the future.Reference: UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024 : https://bit.ly/gemreport2024