10 Biggest Problems Facing Global Education in 2024

10 Biggest Problems Facing Global Education in 2024

Education is a fundamental right and a cornerstone for building better futures, yet millions of children around the world face significant challenges in accessing it. In 2024, the global education landscape continues to grapple with a range of complex issues that hinder learning and development. From the impacts of conflict and climate change to systemic barriers like gender inequality and teacher shortages, these obstacles are shaping the future of education for generations to come. Here, we explore the 10 Biggest Problems Facing Global Education in 2024, shedding light on the urgent need for innovative solutions and sustained global action.

1. Conflict and Violence

Conflict remains one of the leading barriers to education, with USAID reporting that nearly half of all out-of-school children—approximately 125 million—live in conflict zones. To understand the magnitude of this issue, consider that in 2013, UNESCO reported that conflict kept 50 million children out of school. Just last year, renewed conflict in Sudan left 19 million children without access to education.

Education serves as a lifeline during conflicts, offering children protection from forced recruitment and violence, and providing a semblance of normalcy in chaotic times. Moreover, education helps reduce the likelihood of future conflicts. Unfortunately, schools are often targeted in modern warfare, prompting many parents to keep their children at home for safety. These missed years of schooling are difficult to recover. For instance, during the first two years of the Syrian crisis, the country lost all educational progress made since 2000. Additionally, the trauma of prolonged conflicts often requires psychosocial support for affected children, further delaying their ability to resume learning. With conflicts becoming increasingly long-lasting, there’s a growing risk of creating multiple generations with little to no education.

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2. Violence and Bullying in the Classroom

Violence often follows children into the classroom. A UN study revealed that while 102 countries have banned corporal punishment, enforcement of these bans is inconsistent. Students in many regions face bullying and even sexual violence, sometimes at the hands of peers or school staff.

These experiences force some children to drop out of school entirely, while those who remain often suffer from low self-esteem, impaired social development, and decreased academic performance. In Sierra Leone, we’ve tackled these challenges through our Safe Learning Model, creating environments where children feel secure and supported.

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3. Climate Change

Climate change poses a growing threat to education by causing extreme weather events and natural disasters that destroy schools and critical infrastructure like roads. Rebuilding these facilities can take months, if not years.

Additionally, climate change impacts the physical and emotional health of children, making it harder for them—and sometimes their teachers—to focus on education. Families living in poverty are hit hardest, often pulling children out of school due to financial strain or the need for them to help with household income.

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4. Harvest Seasons and Market Days

In farming communities, children often miss school during harvest seasons to assist their families in gathering and selling crops. These absences can stretch over weeks. Families with nomadic lifestyles or those who move seasonally to follow grazing patterns or plant cycles face additional disruptions to their children’s education.

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5. Unpaid and Underqualified Teachers

In unstable governments, public servants, including teachers, may go unpaid for months. Many teachers are forced to leave their positions in search of other income sources, or they are reassigned to different areas.

This leaves schools struggling to fill positions with qualified educators. According to the World Bank, the percentage of trained teachers in sub-Saharan Africa fell from 84% in 2000 to 69% in 2019. STEM teachers are particularly scarce in low-income countries, worsening the issue for students in these regions.

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6. The Cost of Supplies and Uniforms

Even when primary education is free, families often face significant costs for uniforms, school supplies, and additional fees. These expenses alone can be enough to keep children out of the classroom, especially in low-income households.

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7. Being an Older Student

UNICEF reports that adolescents are twice as likely to be out of school as younger children. Globally, one in five students aged 12 to 15 is not in school. Older students often face pressure to leave school to work and support their families financially.

To address this, we’ve developed programs to help those who have left school gain essential skills such as financial literacy, business management, and vocational training.

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8. Being Female

Despite progress in recent years, girls are still less likely than boys to access education in many parts of the world. UNESCO estimates that 80% of school-aged girls who are not in school may never enroll, compared to just 16% of boys. These figures are especially dire in fragile or conflict-affected areas.

Many schools lack proper facilities, such as separate bathrooms, which leads to girls missing school during their periods. According to the World Bank, period-related issues cause girls to miss up to 20% of their school days.

In some cases, girls are pressured to leave school to help with household chores or are forced into early marriage. Child marriage often ends a girl’s education as she assumes responsibilities for her new family. The UN reports that in low-income countries, 33% of girls are married before turning 18, and over 11% are married before the age of 15.

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9. Outbreaks and Epidemics

Disease outbreaks can close schools even when students are healthy. Teachers may fall ill, or children may be kept at home to help care for sick family members. Quarantine measures also disrupt regular schooling.

During the West African Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2016, education for 3 million children in Liberia and Sierra Leone was interrupted. In response, we partnered with local governments to provide lessons via radio and trained community members to deliver basic reading and math instruction in small groups. Once schools reopened, we helped students transition back to classrooms safely, but many faced significant gaps in their learning.

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10. Language and Literacy Barriers

Even in their hometowns, many children face challenges if the language used in school is different from their mother tongue. For example, in Marsabit County, Kenya, most children speak Borana at home but must learn Swahili and English to succeed in school.

UNESCO estimates that 40% of school-aged children do not have access to education in a language they fully understand. This issue is even more acute for children who migrate, such as Syrian refugees in Türkiye, who must adapt to a new language, Turkish, and a new alphabet.

Literacy challenges exacerbate the issue. Struggling readers often fall behind in other subjects and may drop out of school altogether if they feel they cannot catch up.

The problems facing global education in 2024 are deeply interconnected, reflecting broader social, economic, and environmental challenges. From addressing the immediate impacts of conflict and climate change to breaking down systemic barriers like gender inequality and poverty, the path forward requires collaboration, innovation, and unwavering commitment. By prioritizing education as a universal right and investing in sustainable solutions, we can work toward a future where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive, no matter their circumstances.

Let’s work together to eliminate the problems that are facing global education!

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Considered one of the premier experts in his profession, Greg has trained teachers and principals throughout the world in areas such as critical thinking, language development and leadership. His expertise in school start-up projects, leadership and curriculum development has made him a sought-after authority in this discipline.

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