Education Cannot Wait released the report "Breaking Barriers: Understanding Educational Exclusion in Crises" on June 23, 2026. The report states that conflict, displacement, and climate shocks are disrupting education for an estimated 258 million school-aged children and adolescents worldwide.

Of these children, 93 million are entirely out of school. The report indicates that 182 million crisis-affected children live across the 20 highest-severity crisis contexts. Within these contexts, 74 million children are out of school, representing nearly 80% of all out-of-school crisis-affected children identified in the study.

The report found that in some crisis contexts, less than one in 10 children demonstrate basic reading proficiency in the early grades. Analysis from Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and Somalia found that displaced children experience slower educational progression and lower promotion rates compared to their non-displaced peers. Displaced children in these areas are also more likely to be over-age for their grade.

By Grade 6, reading proficiency reaches 30% in conflict-affected countries. This figure rises to 47% in countries primarily affected by socioeconomic crises. In countries mainly affected by natural disasters, reading proficiency reaches 63% by Grade 6. Financial barriers and conflict-related school closures account for nearly 80% of school withdrawal cases.

ECW Director Maysa Jalbout said, "Support for education in crises is the insurance policy families, governments and donors need to protect their long-term investments in education and economic opportunity." Since its creation, Education Cannot Wait has reached more than 14 million crisis-affected children. The organization aims to reach another 10 million children by 2030.