UNESCO Reports Alarming 14% Drop in Global Education Aid, Millions at Risk

In a concerning development for global education, UNESCO has recently reported a significant 14% drop in global aid to education. This decline, the steepest in over a decade, is largely attributed to recent reductions in overseas development aid (ODA).

The findings, revealed in new analysis on UNESCO's World Education Blog, paint a troubling picture for educational funding worldwide. According to the report released in April 2025, these aid cuts could threaten educational opportunities for millions of children and young people globally.

This reduction comes at a critical time when UNESCO and partner organizations are working toward ensuring inclusive and equitable high-quality education for all, as highlighted in their educational initiatives spanning 2022-2025. The organization has been particularly focused on strengthening inclusion and implementing Sustainable Development Goal 4 across various regions.

In parallel to this concerning decline in funding, UNESCO continues its work on regional education assessments. The organization has partnered with the Network of Education Policy Centres for the 2025 Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia regional report, which examines leadership practices for inclusive education across multiple education systems.

Education experts are expressing concern that this significant reduction in funding could undermine progress toward global education goals, particularly in regions already struggling with educational access and quality. The timing is especially problematic as many education systems are still recovering from disruptions caused by global events in recent years.

As the international community faces this challenge, UNESCO is calling for renewed commitment to education funding to prevent further setbacks in global educational development.