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Education is a human right and a driver of development

Some 251 million children and young people worldwide do not go to school. In many countries, education is poorly organised and unfairly distributed. How can we create structures that enable everyone to access high-quality, inclusive education?

Inclusive, high-quality education is a human right. It gives people the opportunity to shape their own lives. This, in turn, promotes social cohesion and economic growth. Education also helps to prevent conflicts and violence.

Despite this, almost one in three children in poor countries has no access to education. In 2023, there were still 251 million children and young people who did not go to school. 70 per cent of 10-year-olds in low and middle-income countries do not understand simple texts.

44 million

new teachers are needed by 2030 to further improve education in poor countries.

USD 97 billion

are needed to improve education by 2030.

Reimagining education

In many countries, education systems are poorly organised and underfunded. GIZ supports governments in organising their education systems more effectively – from the national to the local level. Our experts advise ministries, empower school authorities and get communities involved. This makes education more inclusive and equitable for all.

Mehrere Schülerinnen sitzen auf Schulbänken, auf den Tischen liegen Bücher.
© GIZ

Equal opportunities for every child

All children have the right to education. However, girls and other vulnerable groups are often excluded. Poverty, discrimination and outdated traditions stand in their way.

Boys, on the other hand, are often forced into child labour. In poor countries, in particular, people with disabilities have limited access to education. 

Our aim: to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to education. To achieve this, we:

  • Support reforms
  • Promote gender-sensitive funding
  • Support teacher training
  • Develop gender-sensitive teaching materials
  • Award scholarships
  • Raise awareness of discrimination

We also improve school facilities, ensuring separate toilets for girls and boys and barrier-free access.

Learning in times of crisis

Crisis and conflict jeopardise the education of millions of children, particularly refugees and returnees. The situation is exacerbated by overburdened schools, language barriers and insufficient psychosocial support. 

We provide comprehensive support: 

We develop decentralised education structures
We train teachers and make schools safe and barrier-free
We involve parents and communities
We offer alternative learning options outside of school
We offer language courses for refugees and assist them in obtaining recognition of their qualifications
We rebuild schools following conflict

Digital education – opportunities for all

Many partner countries face challenges such as limited access to education, poor-quality education and underqualified teachers. At the same time, education planners are lagging behind in adopting new technologies.

We use digitalisation to improve education. We:

  • Support digital planning and management using modern tools
  • Teach schoolchildren media literacy and digital skills
  • Develop inclusive learning formats such as apps and e-learning 

This allows us to close the digital gender divide that affects girls and women disproportionately and to create learning opportunities for all.

Education requires strategy and funding

Low-income countries often lack funding for education. This is not only due to tight budgets, but also to complicated funding procedures. Many of GIZ’s partner countries struggle with the complex application processes for international funding.

We provide support to finance education more effectively. We:

  • Offer advice on education management and budgeting
  • Offer support in applying for international funding
  • Promote innovative financing models
  • As a partner of the Global Partnership for Education, ensure that international aid reaches those who need it. 
This project focuses on the following GIZ work priorities:
The project contributes to these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations:
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