Every child deserves an education. Getting a good quality education helps children grow into healthier adults with better prospects in life, who can use their own voice and utilise their power for change. It can also provide stability to children who are displaced, contribute to gender equality, reduce the likelihood of conflict, and contribute to a healthy planet.
Ensuring everyone gets the opportunity to learn, and that countries everywhere have robust education systems are essential for creating a fairer world, free from poverty.
Education is a fundamental human right and is critical part of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, meaning countries have committed to ensuring an inclusive and quality education for all by 2030. Despite this, millions of children are still left behind, especially girls, disabled children and children affected by crises such as conflict, forced displacement and climate-induced disasters. It is estimated that worldwide, 222 million children affected by crises are in need of educational support.
Despite the fact that far too many children are missing out on an education, there are now more children in school than at any point in human history, which is a huge achievement and shows that it is possible to improve access to education worldwide. As well as a need to continue to improve access to schooling, there is an urgent need to address what is known as the learning crisis - the fact that the majority of children in low- and middle- income countries do not gain foundational learning skills such as literacy and numeracy during their primary education.
Read our report 'Foundations First: Maximising the UK's impact in addressing the learning crisis' to find out more. For an overview of why education is important, some of the challenges to acheiving Sustainable Development Goal 4, and what can be done, check out our campaign guide 'An introduction to education'.
TAKE ACTION
Education in Emergencies: We are calling on the UK to support education in emergencies in two upcoming global meetings, the 'COP28' climate negotiations, and the Global Refugee Forum in December 2023. You can write to your MP to urge the Government tot take action here.
Teachers: The 'Send My Friend to School' coalition, hosted by RESULTS UK, is calling for the UK Government to support education in emergencies. If you are a parent, carer or teacher, you can download the campaign pack here.
RESULTS UK also supports parliamentarians who want to champion education, via the All Party-Parliamentary group on Education for All, and the International Parliamentary Network on Education (IPNEd.)
Image: Non-Formal education classes are run by unicef and other implementing partners. © UNICEF Greece/Kotak/2022