At least 30 million children out of school in the Middle East and North Africa

AMMAN, 24 January 2025 – An estimated 30 million children are out of school in the Middle East and North Africa region, according to UNICEF, risking long-term consequences for their learning and wellbeing.

Data for 12 countries in the region shows the number of out-of-school children (from 5 to 18 years old) has increased to at least 30 million, meaning at least 1 in 3 children in these countries are not in school.

“Over the past 50 years, access to school in the Middle East and North Africa has improved, especially for girls, but a recent string of crises is resulting in a staggering reversal of these gains,” said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edouard Beigbeder.

For children and young people living in countries affected by protracted conflicts and complex humanitarian emergencies, quality inclusive education is particularly critical as it provides learners with the stability and structure required to cope with the trauma they have experienced and equips them with the essential knowledge and relevant skills they need to rebuild their country once the conflict or disaster is over.

In Sudan, 16.5 million children are out of school due to the violent conflict in the country (at least 7 million were out of school before the current conflict), which has destroyed many school buildings, disrupted learning and put the education system at risk of collapse.

In Gaza, 645,000 children are out of school, with all schools completely shuttered since October 2023. Temporary learning spaces have been established and are serving some children but after the intense conflict, at least 84 per cent of schools require full reconstruction or significant rehabilitation before they can reopen. Many children have been injured in the conflict, affecting their ability to access learning opportunities.

For all children, the disruption to their education creates uncertainty, anxiety and lost learning. Without schooling, young people are at an increased risk of exploitation, child labour, early marriage, and other forms of abuse. The longer they are out of school, the higher the risk they will drop out permanently. For younger children, the absence of schooling threatens their cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Across the region, completion rates are high at the primary level but tend to decrease at lower and upper secondary levels. Children residing in rural areas, the poorest children and children with disabilities are the most disadvantaged.

Worryingly, even with high primary level completion rates, foundational numeracy and literacy skills remain low, the basic knowledge and skills a child needs to succeed. In the MENA region, 6 in 10 children cannot read a simple text with comprehension by 10 years of age, increasing the risk of these children dropping out of school forever.

“If children grow up without the skills they need to contribute to their countries and economies, it exacerbates what is already a desperate situation for millions of families,” added Beigbeder. “More must be done, urgently, to prioritize education in emergencies, both for the future of children and the future of their countries.”

To ensure every child has access to education, it is integral that:

1. International humanitarian law is respected. All parties must protect educational institutions and support the reopening of learning as early as possible. Education cannot wait.
2. Investments in education are increased. Governments should allocate 15 to 20 per cent of their total public expenditure on education, in line with international standards.
3. Resilient, green schools that will be sustainable assets for future generations are prioritized in rebuilding educational infrastructure after conflicts or disasters.
4. All schools are inclusive. Vulnerable, remote and disadvantaged children should not be deprived of access to education, including children from the poorest families, rural areas, girls, refugees and children with disabilities.