Munich – September 12, 2026 -- Germans estimate a school year for a child in a low-income country costs 320 euros on average, more than 74% above actual figures ranging from 35 to 183 euros across five surveyed nations, according to a forsa poll commissioned by the ChildInvest Foundation.
91% of Germans rank education as the most effective lever to improve children's lives globally
The representative survey of 1,524 adults, conducted by forsa in April 2026, found 91% of respondents view education as a highly effective tool for long-term improvement in children's living conditions worldwide. Protection from violence, exploitation and child labor, along with improved healthcare and nutrition, each drew 88% approval, showing consensus across age, gender and income brackets.
Actual per-child education costs run far below public estimates
SOS Children's Villages International data show primary school costs per child at 35 euros in Liberia, 76 euros in Togo, 163 euros in Gambia, 174 euros in Ethiopia, and 183 euros in Guinea-Bissau -- all substantially below the 320-euro average estimate from respondents.
Claudia Straßer, board member of the ChildInvest Foundation, said the findings show people understand education's importance but underestimate how much relatively small sums can achieve, noting that a school year costing well under 200 euros changes the calculus for potential donors.
273 million children remain out of school worldwide
According to the UNESCO GEM Report 2026, 273 million children and youth globally do not attend school due to conflict, poverty, hunger and ideological restrictions. In Afghanistan, 1.4 million girls have been barred from secondary education since 2021, leaving roughly 80% of school-age girls there without schooling. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for roughly one-third of the world's out-of-school children and youth.
Secondary completion rates have stalled since 2015
While 88% of children worldwide complete primary school, only two in three youth finish secondary education, a rate that has barely moved in a decade. The employment gap is sharper by gender: the Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026 report puts the NEET rate (not in employment, education or training) at 27.4% for young women versus 13.1% for young men.
UN estimates $97 billion annual funding gap for SDG4 targets
The UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report's Policy Paper 49 calculates that low- and lower-middle-income countries need $97 billion per year to meet the UN's 2030 goal of inclusive, equitable, quality education for all.
ChildInvest Foundation channels funds through 54 trust foundations
The ChildInvest Foundation, the umbrella foundation of SOS Children's Villages Worldwide, supports education projects in more than 130 countries. Of 54 trust foundations it manages, 33 -- around 60% -- fund education and vocational training. In 2025, ten trust foundations backed concrete education projects spanning primary schooling, SOS schools, vocational training and scholarships.