New UNESCO report calls for urgent action on equity and access in education

The UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2026, Countdown to 2030: Access and Equity, highlights the urgent need to accelerate progress towards inclusive education worldwide.

Launched on 25 March 2026, the report takes stock of global progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4, with a focus on access to education and the persistent inequalities that continue to shape learning opportunities.

Despite advances in recent decades, major challenges remain. An estimated 272 million children, adolescents and youth are still out of school globally, underlining the scale of the task ahead. 
The report examines key indicators including early childhood participation, school completion rates, out of school populations and access to higher education. It also analyses countries that have made rapid progress alongside those where progress has stalled, identifying policy choices and financing approaches that support more equitable systems.

As the first in a new series tracking progress towards 2030, the report aims to inform global dialogue on education policy and future priorities. It emphasises the importance of evidence based decision making and sustained investment to ensure that no one is left behind.

For the global scientific and policy community, the findings reinforce the need for stronger collaboration across sectors to address inequality and support education systems that are inclusive, resilient and fit for the future.