Global Attacks on Education Surge 40% as 10,600 Students and Staff Harmed

Research published by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) has documented a deeply concerning 40% surge in attacks on education globally. The study recorded more than 8,556 separate incidents between 2024 and 2025, resulting in at least 10,600 students and education staff being killed, injured, abducted, arrested or otherwise harmed. These figures represent the highest levels of documented violence against educational institutions in recent years, affecting schools, universities and learning centres across 83 countries. The highest incidence of attacks were reported in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine and Ukraine, highlighting how armed conflict and political instability directly threaten children's fundamental right to learn safely. The research identifies patterns of violence including direct targeting of educational facilities, military use of schools, and attacks on students and teachers en route to or from their studies. Whilst these events occur in international contexts, the findings carry significant implications for local safeguarding practice and emergency planning within UK education systems. For Lead Members with responsibility for children's services and schools, the report serves as a stark reminder of why protecting educational spaces remains a fundamental duty, reinforcing the importance of robust risk assessments, contingency planning, and maintaining safe learning environments even as global instability escalates threats to learners and educators elsewhere.