September is synonymous with going back to school across the Northern Hemisphere, where classrooms are reopening and a new academic year is beginning. In many countries of the Southern Hemisphere, meanwhile, students are returning from a mid-year break or entering the final months of the school calendar. The moment offers a moment to reflect upon who is in school and who is not. A series of blogs will reflect on what we mean when we talk about access to education. Some may enter; some may enter late, drop out early, repeat years and so on. Together, as we presented in the 2026 GEM Report on access and equity, these are all key measures of successful and inclusive education systems. This first blog looks at the first step: entering school. What do we know?
Read more: https://world-education-blog.org/2026/09/01/back-to-school-how-many-children-are-in-school/