UNHCR warns funding cuts threaten education for millions of refugee children

A new report from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warns that 5.8 million refugee children worldwide are currently out of school. This figure represents approximately 44% of the 13.1 million school-age refugees globally in 2025.

Significant disparities exist between education levels. While 65% of primary school-age refugee children are enrolled in education, only 32% of those of secondary school age are enrolled. Additionally, two out of three refugee children lack the necessary learning foundation to enter a classroom effectively.

The crisis is exacerbated by severe funding shortages. UNHCR funding dropped from $5.2 billion in 2024 to $3.9 billion in 2025, even as the number of people requiring protection remains at historic highs. By the end of July, the agency had received only $2.7 billion of the $8.5 billion required for the year. UNHCR warns that these cuts threaten to undo decades of progress and may cause nearly 8.3 million forcibly displaced people to lose life-saving assistance.