UNICEF reports climate hazards disrupted schooling for 171 million students in 2025

More than 171 million students worldwide are currently out of school, according to the latest figures released by UNESCO, with girls bearing a disproportionate share of the disruption. The data, compiled from national education ministries and international monitoring agencies, reflects the cumulative impact of pandemic‑related closures, conflict‑driven displacement and economic hardship across low‑ and middle‑income regions. In several countries, enrollment gaps have widened to as much as 20 percent for female learners, reversing gains made in gender parity over the past decade.

Experts attribute the heightened vulnerability of girls to factors such as increased household responsibilities, early marriage pressures and reduced access to remote learning resources. The prolonged absence from formal education threatens long‑term socioeconomic outcomes, including lower earnings potential and reduced participation in the labor market. International bodies and donor governments are urged to prioritize gender‑responsive interventions—such as cash‑transfer programs, safe school transport and community outreach—to accelerate re‑enrollment and mitigate the widening gender gap before the next academic year begins.