Key facts
- The Iran war's impact on education is less visible than outright closures but disproportionately affects the poorest families.
- Soaring fuel prices increase the cost of transportation for students and teachers, and strain government education budgets.
- A UN report suggests up to 23.4 million more children could be pushed into poverty by year-end due to the conflict.
- In Southeast Asia, children are dropping out to work, with some moving to cities for low-wage jobs.
- Higher fuel prices are driving up costs for educational supplies and teacher accessibility to remote areas.
- Developing countries reliant on imported energy are most exposed to these disruptions.
- Girls in South Asia may face increased child marriages as economic hardships mount.
- School meal programs, vital for millions of children, are threatened by disrupted fertilizer shipments and higher transport costs.
The ongoing conflict in Iran is creating a ripple effect that is severely impacting global education, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. Soaring fuel prices, a direct consequence of the war, are making it prohibitively expensive for children and teachers to reach schools, especially in developing nations reliant on energy imports. This financial strain is forcing families to make agonizing choices between providing basic necessities like food and fuel, or ensuring their children can attend school.
In Cambodia, on the Tonle Sap lake, families who rely on fishing are struggling as higher fuel costs prevent them from traveling to deeper waters for better catches. This economic pressure means children like 13-year-old Sou Sreynich are skipping school to work. Similarly, in Vietnam, two sisters, Ly and Nhi, dropped out of school to work in a restaurant after their father lost his fishing job due to high diesel prices. While a nonprofit intervened to help them return to school, their situation highlights the broader crisis.
Experts warn that millions of children could be pushed into poverty and out of school by the end of the year, with a significant impact expected in Africa and Asia. The rising costs extend beyond transportation, affecting educational supplies and the accessibility of remote communities for teachers and aid workers. Governments are also facing increased pressure on their budgets due to higher food and energy bills, potentially leading to reduced funding for education and healthcare.
In South Asia, girls are particularly at risk, as economic hardships may lead to more girls dropping out of school and an increase in child marriages. Furthermore, school meal programs, which provide essential nutrition to over 466 million children worldwide, are also under threat due to disrupted fertilizer shipments and increased transportation costs, impacting children's ability to learn and concentrate.