"Let me learn"
Nearly two-thirds of 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand a simple text.
Nearly two-thirds of 10-year-olds are estimated to be unable to read and understand a simple text. Without urgent action, this global learning crisis will become a generational catastrophe.
Education systems are failing our children.
Education systems were already failing our children even before the pandemic. COVID-19 has exacerbated this learning crisis and children in almost every country have fallen behind in their learning.
We need a global effort to tackle the learning crisis head on. Together, we can help every child gain basic reading and maths skills and unlock their potential.
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Learn what needs to happen
For partners and policymakers
For young people
For parents
For teachers
What needs to happen
UNICEF is calling on governments to:
- Reach every child and keep them in school
- Assess learning levels regularly
- Prioritize teaching the fundamentals
- Increase catch-up learning and progress beyond what was lost
- Develop psychosocial health and well-being so every child is ready to learn.
For partners and policymakers
We need urgent action from governments and other partners to invest in education as a core part of the COVID-19 recovery. Without ambitious action on basic reading and maths, with a focus on the most marginalized children, we will fail to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
70 per cent of 10-year-olds in 'learning poverty', unable to read and understand a simple text
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For young people
Did you know that education is a human right? But too many children around the world still don’t go to school. And an even larger number of kids who are in schools, aren’t getting the quality education they deserve.
Express your views and support for the issues that matter to you on Voices of Youth – UNICEF's digital community for youth, by youth.
Tips on going back to school during COVID-19
For parents
Is your child anxious about going back to school after COVID-19 closures? Find tips on how to support them during this time, as well as many other parenting resources on UNICEF’s Parenting Hub.
How to talk to your children about school anxiety
For teachers
During the COVID-19 pandemic we saw teachers go above and beyond to make sure learning didn’t completely stop. Children now depend on their teachers to help them catch-up on lost learning in a safe and supportive environment. UNICEF stands with teachers everywhere in calling for more investment, training and support for their work.