Refugees, 14.8 million school-age children in the world still excluded from the school system

ROMA – Five years after the launch of the Refugee Education Strategy 2030UNHCRthis year the Refugee Education Report reveals that while remarkable progress has been made globally, significant challenges remain, with nearly half of the world’s 14.8 million school-aged refugee children still out of school. Data from 65 refugee-hosting countries analyzed in the report shows that approximately 7.2 million refugee children lack access to education due to a variety of factors, including insecurity, lack of inclusive education policies and language barriers.

The mortgage on the future of young people. This puts young people’s future prosperity at risk and denies them the chance to realize their potential. Average enrollment rates for refugees for the 2022-23 school year were 37% for pre-school, a more encouraging 65% for primary school and 42% for secondary school. Global refugee enrollment in higher education, where barriers include high tuition fees and a lack of reliable connectivity, is unchanged from the 7% reported last year, and we are halfway to achieving the 15% target by 2030 (15by30).

The increase in refugees. Despite an increase in the global population of university-aged refugees in 2023, this figure remained at 7% thanks to a real increase of almost 50,000 refugees enrolled in higher education. The report also shows that gender disparities in access to education for refugees persist, with over 600,000 displaced Ukrainian children and youth remaining out of school due to the ongoing war in their country.

Filippo Grandi: “Education can save lives. “The evidence is clear,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “Education is associated with a lower likelihood of teenage pregnancy and early marriage, giving girls the chance to shape their own destinies. For boys, more years of schooling translates into a lower likelihood of risky behavior, and therefore less violence and victimization. And for everyone, education opens doors to the labor market, allowing refugees to earn a living and support their families. Without a doubt, education translates into a better life. As we move towards 2030, we reaffirm our commitment to the right of children and young people to learn.”