UNHCR Refugee Education Report Highlights Progress and Persistent Challenges Five Years On

UNHCR calls for continued cooperation, increased resources, and innovative partnerships to meet refugee education goals by 2030, ensuring that displaced children and youth have the opportunity to thrive.

The UNHCR's latest refugee education report, five years after the launch of the Refugee Education Strategy 2030, reveals both progress and ongoing challenges in global refugee education. Despite improvements, nearly half of the world’s 14.8 million school-aged refugee children remain out of school, with approximately 7.2 million still missing out on education due to insecurity, lack of inclusive policies, and other barriers.

The report highlights that while enrolment rates for refugees show some promise—37% for pre-primary, 65% for primary, and 42% for secondary education—global tertiary enrolment remains stagnant at 7%, despite a real increase in refugee numbers. Gender disparities in education persist, and the ongoing war in Ukraine has left over 600,000 displaced Ukrainian children and youth out of school.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi emphasized the transformative power of education, linking it to improved outcomes such as reduced adolescent pregnancy and early marriage, lower rates of violence, and better access to the labor market.

Promising developments include the expansion of flagship programs like the DAFI scholarship initiative and the positive impact of sports in building relationships and fostering belonging among refugee youth. The 2023 Global Refugee Forum helped advance international responsibility-sharing through high-level pledges and evidence-based good practices.

UNHCR calls for continued cooperation, increased resources, and innovative partnerships to meet refugee education goals by 2030, ensuring that displaced children and youth have the opportunity to thrive.