The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says new statistics show that 98 million children and youth between the ages of six and 18 worldwide are still not in school in sub-Saharan Africa.
This is when the new school year begins in many parts of the world.
UNESCO, in new data published online on Thursday, shows that sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the most children and youth out of school, with a total of 98 million children.
“It is also the only region where this number is increasing, the levels of people not attending school are falling more slowly than the rate at which people of school age are increasing.
“The region with the second largest number of people out of school is Central and South Asia, with 85 million,” it said.
Globally, new figures from UNESCO show that 244 million children and young people between the ages of six and 18 around the world are still not in school.
“No one can accept this situation,” Ms Audrey Azoulay, the UNESCO Director-General said, underlining the need to respect every child’s right to education.
“Based on these results, the goal of quality education for all by 2030, set by the United Nations, risks not being met,” he warned.
“We need international mobilization to put education at the top of the global agenda.”
Azoulay will renew his call at the historic Conference on Transforming Education on September 19, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has called the Conference to encourage action and solutions, including reversing the loss of education due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
“According to these results, the goal of good education for all by 2030, set by the United Nations, risks not being met,” he warned.
“We need international mobilization to put education at the top of the global agenda.”
Azoulay will renew his call at the historic Conference on Transforming Education on September 19, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has called the Conference to encourage action and solutions, including reversing the loss of education due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On a more positive note, UNESCO data has confirmed that the gap in the rate of girls and boys not going to school has closed worldwide.
Back in 2000, the gender gap was 2.5 percent among children of primary school age, and 3.9 percent among their upper secondary school peers.
On a more positive note, UNESCO data has confirmed that the gap in the rate of girls and boys not going to school has been closed worldwide.
Back in 2000, the gender gap was 2.5 percent among children of primary school age, and 3.9 percent among their upper secondary school peers.
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