Civil society coalition calls on government to protect UK aid for education
Lord Michael German told attendees that education was a cornerstone for building a more peaceful, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world.
The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Education (APPG) hosted the parliament launch of a report from civil society that calls on the government to prioritise aid for education.
The publication shows that UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) to education plummeted from 13.5% in 2013 to just 3.5% of ODA in 2023.
Planned cuts to the UK’s aid budget risk a further reduction, which the Send My Friend to School campaign urged MPs to resist.
Parliamentarians, school students, teaching union members, and members of The Send My Friend to School Coalition came to the launch of a report into “disappointing” cuts in UK Official Development Assistance (ODA).
Attendees noted that cuts in the budget put the future of the UK’s support for education in low-income countries at risk, outlined the importance of restoring funding, and stipulated the importance of education to a peaceful, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world.
Once a widely recognised champion of global education, ODA to education plummeted from 13.5% in 2013 to just 3.5% of ODA in 2023.*
In February 2025, further significant funding cuts to the 2027 ODA budget were announced,
Planned cuts will have a devastating impact on the world’s poorest children
Co-Chair of the Coalition, Emma Wagner expressed deep concern at the UK aid cuts.
“The Send My Friend to School Coalition is profoundly disappointed by this action which will have devastating effects on millions of marginalised children’s education and their futures,” she said. “At a time when investment in building better futures is urgently needed, the UK is turning its back.”
The Invest in My Friends’ Learning report was published by the Coalition together with more than 20 non-government organisations and the UK’s teacher unions. It sets out the current state of global education financing and the vital role of UK aid in helping to fill financing gaps.
The findings underscore the urgent need for increased funding, as the global education financing gap stands at an estimated $97 billion per year, undermining progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4. These funding shortfalls place millions of children at risk of being left behind – especially those affected by conflict and crises.
The UK’s path to reprioritise global education
The Invest in My Friends’ Learning report calls on the government to do three things.
Reprioritise and protect education in UK aid
Increase the share of ODA for education to meet international benchmarks—15% of total ODA and 10% of humanitarian aid—and set a path to restore total UK aid to 0.7% of GNI.Ensure full funding for key global education partnerships
Deliver on current UK commitments to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW), and lead with new multi-year pledges in the run-up to their 2026 replenishments.Support international reforms that strengthen domestic education budgets
Back tax, debt, and financial architecture reforms that help lower-income countries invest sustainably in education and reduce long-term reliance on aid.
UK students urge MPs to support education
Starting the day’s conversation, two Send My Friend to School Champions from Merstham Park School took the stage. They stressed that education should no longer be treated as a privilege but as the inherent right of every child.
Calling on the UK government to reprioritise education, the students emphasised its power to equip children with the tools to build a better future and drive meaningful change in the world.
Speaking at the event in Parliament, Lord Michael German, the Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Education, said that education was a priority for members of parliament who know that it is a cornerstone for building a more peaceful, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world.
Beyond Westminster, young campaigners are making their voices heard through creative classroom projects and direct engagement with MPs. The 2025–2027 Invest in My Friends’ Learning campaign is working with schools and young people across the UK to call on the UK Government to reprioritise education within its international development agenda and play its part to close the funding gap. Pupils are delivering symbolic schools and reports to their local MP.
Over its 25 years, the Coalition has contributed to major wins, including UK support for the Safe Schools Declaration and the Girls’ Education Challenge Fund. Their message remains clear. As conflict, climate change, and inequality continue to disrupt learning, investing in global education is both urgent and strategic.
This campaign aligns with IPNEd’s core priorities. We continue to see parliamentarians, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, advocating for education budgets and reform under challenging conditions. Without sustained international cooperation, the global education crisis will worsen. UK leadership—through funding, policy, and partnerships—remains important.
Meeting the right to education requires action. The recommendations put forward, including reprioritising education in aid, restoring the 0.7% ODA target, and supporting global education funds, are practical steps. So too are broader reforms in tax and debt systems that enable countries to sustainably finance education themselves.
