These days, many children are starting the new school year full of anticipation – but around the world, millions of children, especially in disadvantaged regions, are losing access to education, partly due to drastic cuts in development cooperation. Our education expert Valeria Kunz explains why this is happening and what we are doing about it.

Cuts to education funding

First day of school? Not for everyone.

There’s excitement in the air. Young children are gathering in the sports hall, where they are being greeted by their new teachers. They tentatively sit in a circle while their proud parents pull out their smartphones to capture this importantmoment. Such scenes are playing out all over Switzerland, but children around the world are losing access to education. The reason: foreign aid cuts. Education is especially hard hit, as it’s often the first to be subject to cuts.

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Education remains out of reach for many About 272 million children – one in five worldwide – do not attend school. This number rose by 50 million in just two years.

Education brings hope

Surprisingly, the Swiss Federal Council has also cut funding, with grave consequences. 1.6 million children are missing out on the chance to attend school – that’s more than the number of all school-age children in Switzerland. The effects of education are well documented: in the last 40 years it has facilitated about half of the world’s economic growth and decreased extreme poverty by 40%.

“Making cuts to education is definitely the wrong approach,” says Valeria Kunz, Head of Education at Save the Children Switzerland. Schools are often much more than just places of learning. “Education gives children stability and opportunities. They can spend time with their peers, play, dream – they can simply be children.”

Girls are among the worst affected

Children that are already disadvantaged – girls and children with disabilities – suffer the most. Specific education programmes have helped many of them to attend school for the very first time. Discontinuation of these programmes will drastically increase inequality.

This isn’t just about reading and maths. School also protects girls from child labour, child marriage and exploitation. During her numerous visits, Valeria saw repeatedly that girls are at a disadvantage. At the same time, she’s seeing how education can help girls and their families.

One project that shows what a difference it makes can be found in Bangladesh, in the largest refugee camp for Rohingya. There are almost no school programmes – and girls especially are often completely excluded from getting an education.

We are already seeing the results: fewer girls are attending school, and the quality of education is suffering.

warns Valeria Head of Education at Save the Children Switzerland


Peer Education Programme

This is where our project comes in, helping girls teach other girls. Through this programme, 2760 girls have learnt to read and write. Some of the girls were later employed as teachers, while others now help in the family business since they are the best in their family at reading and maths.

«I remember a father, who was so proud of his daughter, saying to me how much he appreciated the education programme. Seeing how our project brings sustainable improvement to the lives of girls and their families shows the power of education.»

Learn more about the project

Education cannot wait

Stand up for children’s rights: when you sign the petition calling for basic education to remain part of Swiss developmental aid programmes, you’re helping 1.6 million children continue to learn.

Add your signature now (petition in German)

Creating opportunities

Education is a children’s right as well as one of our core topics. Our projects ensure access to education for children in crisis situations and beyond.

The numbers for our education work in 2024:

  • 12 international educational projects
  • More than 65,000 children supported
  • Training for over 5,000 mothers, fathers and teachers
  • Active in Albania, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Kosovo, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Türkiye and Ukraine

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Girls teach girls

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Interview with Valeria on education (in German)

Valeria Kunz has been leading the international education programmes at Save the Children Switzerland for nine years. In this interview, she explains why education offers hope – and can even be life-saving – in times of crisis.