According to UNESCO report, around one in 10 children worldwide are out of school. About 263 million children are currently not in school, with over 22 million out-of-school children living in conflict zones only.
The highest number of children without access to education lives in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the new report. The region also has the highest rate of exclusion with 21 percent of primary school age children (ages 6 to 12) denied access to education.
The reasons for such high rates include gender inequality and poverty, UNESCO said.
Overall, girls are more frequently shut out of education globally. An estimated 15 million girls of primary school age will never attend school, compared to 10 million boys, according to the report.
"Our focus must be on inclusion from the earliest age and right through the learning cycle, on policies that address the barriers at every stage, with special attention to girls who still face the greatest disadvantage," said UNESCO's Director General Irina Bokova in a statement.
