We’ve been warning that rising debt burdens are forcing lower-income countries to cut funding for education, disproportionately impacting girls, and our new analysis shows exactly how much global debt reform could unlock for education.
Bringing debt service ratios down to 10% of national revenues in lower-income countries could release $506 billion for education over five years.* As an annual figure, that amount is six times the total aid that went to basic education in 2023 ($16.7 billion). It would give governments the fiscal space to abolish school fees, hire more teachers and support more adolescent girls to complete school.
Pope Francis’ call for debt forgiveness
In line with…