EDUCATION: THE FOUNDATION FOR A PEACEFUL FUTURE - A Global Learning Crisis and the GPE Response

Oct 15, 2026

Education is portrayed as a critical foundation for peace, security, and stability, linking the global learning crisis to risks of conflict, exclusion, and lost economic opportunity. The document highlights evidence that education quality and inclusion reduce conflict risk and strengthen social cohesion, especially through improved completion rates for girls and boys. It presents GPE’s approach to transforming education systems at scale, financing partners, and supporting learning during crises with measurable results across fragile and conflict-affected countries.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

THE CHALLENGE

EDUCATION FOR MORE PEACEFUL AND STABLE SOCIETIES

GPE APPROACH

ENSURING CHILDREN KEEP LEARNING

Student Newane Binicia completes a math exercise at the blackboard at the Boyali 2 school in the village of Boyali, Central African Republic as part of a GPE-funded remedial education program. GPE/Eduardo Soteras JUNE 2025 EDUCATION: THE FOUNDATION FOR A PEACEFUL FUTURE Education is critical for building peace and security. The quality and inclusiveness of THE CHALLENGE A global learning crisis is leaving entire generations without the skills to build stable, prosperous societies. In low-and middle-income countries, 7 in 10 children cannot read a simple story by age 10, putting this generation at risk of losing US$21 trillion in potential lifetime earnings. Despite the scale of the crisis, education remains one of the least funded humanitarian sectors, receiving just 3% of global humanitarian financing as of 2021. Countries with widespread education inequality and economic stagnation face greater risks of conflict and instability. High education inequality also substantially increases the risk of violent conflict. Conflict is a significant driver of lost learning. In 2021, 449 million children—1 in 6 worldwide—lived in areas affected by conflict with 127 million children out of school as a direct consequence. Education systems in states experiencing fragility often have low investment, challenges with governance and exclusionary policies that perpetuate instability. EDUCATION FOR MORE PEACEFUL AND STABLE SOCIETIES Education is a key force for stability. Research by GPE and the Institute for Economics and Peace shows that quality education reduces conflict risk and strengthens social cohesion. Countries with higher secondary school completion rates experience fewer conflicts. Greater female school completion, especially at the primary level, correlates with country stability. Education also promotes economic growth and social equity, addressing the root causes of conflict. More years in school lower the likelihood of violence and higher secondary completion rates are linked to shorter conflicts and lasting peace. Beyond reducing violence, education that meets the needs of every girl and boy fosters understanding, tolerance and cooperation. Each additional year of schooling decreases the chance of voluntary recruitment into armed groups by 13%. Education further equips young people with the skills to secure jobs, support their communities and to build fairer, more peaceful societies. “Without education, there is no growth. Without growth, there are no jobs. Without jobs, there are no opportunities. Without opportunities, there is poverty, instability and displacement.” Laura Frigenti, GPE CEO [For all sources visit:](For all sources visit: www.globalpartnership.org/data)[ ](For all sources visit: www.globalpartnership.org/data)[www.globalpartnership.org/data](For all sources visit: www.globalpartnership.org/data). learning today shape the resilience of societies and the opportunities of tomorrow. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) supports partner countries to strengthen their education systems to prevent conflict, promote stability and foster peace. As both a fund and a partnership, GPE provides urgent support in times of crisis to ensure children continue to learn and communities recover and rebuild. “Young people have high ambitions for the future. They must be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of the 21st century, thrive in their communities, secure good jobs and build fairer and more peaceful societies.” Laura Frigenti, GPE CEO GPE APPROACH Education is a precondition for stable, secure societies. Investing in education is the smart thing to do. Global leaders have a choice for this generation of young people who are out of school: support their access to quality education so they can contribute to solutions for challenges at home and abroad; or continue to exclude them and deepen the simultaneous humanitarian, e

FAQs

What core problem does the document describe?

A global learning crisis leaves many children without the skills to build stable, prosperous societies, increasing risk of conflict, inequality, and economic loss.

How does the document connect education to peace and stability?

Quality education reduces conflict risk and strengthens social cohesion, with links between higher completion rates, especially for girls, and fewer conflicts and longer-lasting peace.

What is the GPE approach discussed in the document?

GPE focuses on transforming education systems at scale through unique financing and partnership mechanisms, coordinating across humanitarian responses and development partners during crises.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Maya Linwood