UNESCO Global Education Monitoring reports show that well over 250 million children and youth remain out of school, with progress since 2015 nearly stalled and regional concentration in sub-Saharan Africa and low-income settings. Learning outcomes remain weak globally: only a minority of students reach minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics in many systems, and spending per learner in low-income countries is a tiny fraction of that in high-income countries. This cause backs domestic and international investment in teachers, inclusive schools, digital equity where appropriate, and crisis-sensitive education so every child can learn.