6 in 10 children can't read or do basic math: Why they're attending school but not learning
Foundational learning is in freefall across the globe. From Sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia, millions of children are leaving classrooms without the ability to read a simple sentence or solve a basic math problem.
The pandemic exacerbated a pre-existing crisis, but the learning poverty has become a grave educational failure of our time. The crisis has not spared wealthy nations either. In the United States, the January 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows reading scores at their lowest in decades, with nearly a third of eighth graders performing below basic level. Math outcomes in America were no better, with stagnation and widening disparities, particularly among historically marginalized groups.
UNESCO
's 2025 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report underscores the magnitude of this global learning crisis: six in ten children worldwide now lack minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics by the end of primary school.
Minimum proficiency means being able to demonstrate at least a basic understanding of reading or arithmetic concepts appropriate to the child's grade level. Yet, this milestone remains out of reach for over 60% of primary-aged learners, suggests the survey. In many low- and middle-income countries, these figures are even more severe, underscoring the deep inequities baked into global education systems.
Millions in school, yet learning levels plummet: A global snapshot
The learning crisis is most pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with sub-Saharan Africa showing the slowest progress.
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In several African nations, fewer than one in five children reach minimum proficiency in mathematics or reading by the end of primary school. For example, some countries have shown no improvement—or even decline—in learning outcomes despite increased access to schooling.
Latin America, though slightly better, has also experienced setbacks, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In some countries in the region, learning losses during school closures have undone a decade's worth of progress.
Meanwhile, wealthier regions such as Europe and North America generally have higher learning proficiency rates, but even there, marginalized communities—especially among migrants and low-income groups—continue to lag behind.
What's driving the global learning crisis?
The global trends, we know, reveal that despite record levels of school enrolment, millions of children are failing to acquire even the most basic reading and math skills. The reasons are systemic, structural—and deeply entrenched. Here's a snapshot of what's going wrong:
Teacher shortages
and low quality of instruction:
Many classrooms, especially in low-income countries, are overcrowded and under-resourced, with underqualified or unsupported teachers.
Inadequate infrastructure:
Millions of students attend schools without electricity, water, or basic learning materials.
Learning poverty:
Children from poorer households are more likely to enter school late, attend irregularly, or drop out early.
Gender disparities and conflict:
In fragile contexts and regions affected by war or political instability, girls are disproportionately affected.
Language barriers:
In many countries, children are taught in languages they do not speak at home, compounding comprehension issues.
Lack of
early childhood development
:
The report emphasizes the critical role of pre-primary education in setting a foundation, yet many children still lack access to quality early learning.
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