The United Nations says over 250 million children of primary school age cannot read, write or do basic maths. 120 million children have spent little or no time in school. Countries are poorer when children do not go to school. Each year, countries lose up to $130 billion. The U.N. said there was a global "learning crisis". In a third of countries, 75% of primary school teachers do not have enough training. The U.N. said it was important "to focus on quality".

Most children not going to school are girls. Countries get richer if girls go to school – up to 25% richer in 40 years. Almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in Arab countries and parts of Africa may never go to school. In Yemen, just 36% of girls are literate. Reuters said poorer girls in developing countries wouldn't be literate until 2072. The good news is that in Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school fell by 85% in the last five years.