The 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report reveals that one in six school-aged children globally lacks access to education, with only two out of three completing lower secondary school. Progress in education has significantly slowed since 2015, primarily attributed to conflicts and population growth.
The report states, “Progress in children’s school attendance has slowed in almost all regions,” with Sub-Saharan Africa being particularly affected. In conflict zones, millions more children are out of school beyond official figures.
Despite these challenges, UNESCO highlights significant achievements over the past two decades, with over 25 children gaining access to school every minute since 2000. Several countries have made notable strides in reducing out-of-school rates and expanding educational access. However, the report cautions that exclusion cannot be solved by a single policy, calling for tailored approaches and sustainable investments to ensure all children learn.
Ukraine Reports Intense Drone and Missile Attacks
United Nations human rights monitors have reported that Russia launched a large and deadly wave of attacks on Ukraine two nights ago. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), between March 23-24, Russia deployed approximately 1,000 drones and dozens of missiles targeting Ukrainian cities, resulting in at least six deaths and around 100 injuries. Residential areas, medical facilities, and energy infrastructure sustained damage. A monastery in Lviv and a maternity hospital in the neighboring Ivano-Frankivsk region were among the targets.
The UN mission noted that these recent attacks are a repetition of a concerning tactic used by Russia last year, which involved firing “powerful, long-range weapons against densely populated areas,” leading to increased civilian casualties. More than four years have passed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The UN monitoring mission has confirmed over 15,000 civilian deaths, though the actual number is likely much higher. Additionally, 3.7 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine in areas controlled by the Kyiv government.
Migratory Species Face Decline
A report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre indicates that nearly half of all migratory species are threatened with extinction. This figure has risen from 44% two years ago. Similarly, the proportion of species facing a high risk of extinction has increased from 22% to 24%.
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema of the UN Environment Programme stated at the global conference on the conservation of migratory species (CMS COP15) in Brazil, “Protecting these [migratory] species is not something that can be achieved by one country alone. Their survival depends on coordinated international action.” Mrema added, “In times of geopolitical tensions and uncertainty, one crucial truth stands out: environmental multilateralism works. Cooperation, especially on the conservation of migratory species that cross borders and oceans, is both effective and essential.”
