40% of Global Population Lacks Access to Education in Their Native Language: UNESCO Calls for Multilingual Learning Reforms

40% of Global Population Lacks Access to Education in Their Native Language: UNESCO Calls for Multilingual Learning Reforms

In a world increasingly connected by technology and globalization, access to education remains uneven, particularly for those who do not speak the dominant language of instruction. According to a recent report by UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team, a staggering 40% of the global population—over 2.3 billion people—lack access to education in a language they understand. This language barrier disproportionately affects marginalized communities, indigenous groups, and minority language speakers, exacerbating inequalities in learning outcomes and opportunities. UNESCO emphasizes the urgent need for multilingual education policies to bridge this gap, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.  Key Highlights of UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Team Report 1. Language Barrier in Education : Approximately 40% of the global population does not have access to education in a language they speak or understand. This affects over 2.3 billion people, particularly…