Record surge in attacks on schools leaves millions of children out of class

In 2024‑25, education was targeted at an unprecedented scale. The global fund Education Cannot Wait recorded at least 9,259 attacks on learning across 28 countries, a rise of more than 50 % compared with 2022‑23. More than 3,600 of those incidents struck schools directly, and the military use of school facilities nearly doubled. The violence claimed the lives or freedom of more than 10,600 students and educators through killings, injuries or abductions. These figures represent the highest tally ever documented for attacks on schools, universities and other learning sites.

The fallout extends far beyond the immediate damage. Education Cannot Wait estimates that 258 million children in 87 countries now face severe learning disruption, and at least 93 million are completely out of school. Nearly eight in ten of those out‑of‑school children—about 74 million—live in just 20 nations. Vulnerable groups are hit hardest: 74 % of refugee children, 52 % of internally displaced children and 45 % of children with disabilities are not attending school. UN data for 2025 show 24,174 children affected by conflict, including 14,224 who were killed or maimed.

Preventing further loss depends on restoring safe learning environments. UNESCO reminds all parties to conflict of their legal duty to spare education from attack, while Education Cannot Wait’s “Hope Starts Here” campaign is seeking $600 million in requested funding. The goal is to reach 10 million children living in the world’s toughest settings with secure, quality education. Advocates argue that schooling provides not only literacy but also stability, protection from recruitment and a pathway to rebuilding communities after crises. Without sufficient resources, the growing gap between demand and safe schooling is likely to widen.