263 million children and young people around the world between 6 and 17 years old do not attend school.

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), about 263 million children and young people around the world between 6 and 17 years old do not attend school. This figure includes 61 million children of primary school age (6-11 years), 60 million teenagers of junior secondary school age (12-14 years), and 142 million young people of senior secondary school age (15-17 years).

Yet, education is one of the best ways to put an end to poverty. According to the Observatory of French Education Aid in Developing Countries, each extra year of school results in a 10% increase in a person’s potential income. On a national level, this implies a 1% increase in the annual GDP. An educated population is more resistant to all sorts of crises and increases its capacity for resilience. No country can progress in the long-term without investing in the education of its population.

With its local partners, the IECD develops adapted measures that allow rural junior school students, young refugees who have dropped out of school, children with learning difficulties, or young disabled people to benefit from access to good quality education. In tough environments, the IECD is dedicated to ensuring that individuals have the opportunity to reveal their capacities and find their place in society.