A new report from the UN education agency, UNESCO, shows that 273 million children and young people are now out of school. This number has grown for seven years in a row, making it a very big problem for the world. At the same time, heavy attacks in Ukraine are putting many families and children in great danger. These two situations show how hard it is for children to stay safe and keep learning today.

What Happened?

The 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report was just released, and it brings some worrying news. It says that one out of every six children who should be in school is not there. Many children are not finishing their studies, with only two in three young people completing high school. Since 2015, progress has slowed down in almost every part of the world. This is happening because there are more people in the world and because of many wars and fights. The report mentions that places like sub-Saharan Africa are struggling the most to keep children in classrooms. In places where there is war, the situation is even worse than the official numbers show because it is hard to count everyone who is missing out.

While this is happening, the war in Ukraine is seeing a new and very scary wave of attacks. On March 23 and 24, Russia sent nearly 1,000 drones and many missiles toward cities in Ukraine. This was one of the biggest attacks in a long time. These strikes hit homes, power systems, and even a hospital where mothers go to have their babies. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission said that at least six people died and almost 100 people were hurt. They also hit a monastery in the city of Lviv. This kind of heavy fighting makes it impossible for children to go to school or for families to feel safe in their own homes. The war has been going on for more than four years now, and more than 15,000 people have been confirmed killed, though the real number is likely much higher.

Even with all these problems, there is some good news from the past. Since the year 2000, many more children have started going to school. In fact, for every minute that has passed since then, 25 more children have entered a classroom. Some countries have done a great job at helping more kids learn. However, the UNESCO report warns that we cannot fix this with just one simple plan. Every country has different needs and needs a special plan to help its children. Without more money and more focus on peace, many children will continue to be left behind without the education they deserve.

Key Highlights

The number of children out of school has gone up for seven years in a row, reaching 273 million.
One in every six children in the world is currently excluded from getting an education.
Only two out of every three young people actually finish their secondary school education.
Russia recently launched a massive attack on Ukraine using nearly 1,000 drones and dozens of missiles.
The attacks in Ukraine hit residential areas, medical buildings, and a maternity hospital.
Progress in education has slowed down since 2015 due to population growth and constant conflict.
Since the year 2000, more than 25 additional children have started school every single minute.

Why Does This Matter?

This news matters to everyone because children are the future of our world. When children cannot go to school, they cannot learn the skills they need to get good jobs or help their communities. Education is the best way to help people get out of poverty. If millions of children stay out of school, the whole world loses out on their ideas and their hard work. It is very sad to see that after making so much progress since the year 2000, things are now starting to go backward for many kids. We need to care about this because every child should have the chance to read, write, and grow up in a safe place.

The fighting in places like Ukraine also shows how wars destroy the things we need to live. When power plants and hospitals are hit, it makes life very hard for everyone, not just the soldiers. Families lose their homes and their safety. When a maternity hospital or a school is damaged, it takes away the hope of a good future. We must understand that education and peace go together. You cannot have one without the other. If we want a better world, we have to make sure that children are safe from bombs and that they have a desk and a teacher waiting for them.

What Are People Saying?

UNESCO experts are saying that we need to change how we think about education. They say that there is no single policy that can solve the problem for every country. Instead, they are asking world leaders to spend more money on schools and to make plans that fit the specific needs of their people. They want to make sure that children in conflict zones are not forgotten. They believe that with the right investment, we can start moving forward again instead of backward.

At the same time, UN human rights monitors are very worried about the tactics being used in Ukraine. They say that using powerful, long-range weapons in areas where many people live is very dangerous. They have seen this happen before, and it always leads to many normal people getting hurt or killed. Experts from the human rights mission are calling for more protection for civilians and for an end to attacks on hospitals and schools. They believe that the world must pay attention to these deaths and work harder to stop the violence.

Conclusion

The world is facing a very difficult time for education and safety. With 273 million children out of school and wars making life dangerous, we have a lot of work to do. We must remember that more children have been going to school over the last twenty years, which shows that change is possible. If we focus on peace and put more money into schools, we can help the next generation. It is time for everyone to work together to make sure that every child, no matter where they live, can go to school and feel safe every single day.