The current global education crisis has exposed a troubling reality in many low- and middle-income nations, where resources and support for quality education lag significantly. In 2023, approximately 244 million children worldwide were still out of school, with the challenge compounded for students from underserved areas who have limited access to secondary education. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these disparities, especially in third-world countries, where school closures averaged longer than in wealthier nations and where alternatives, like remote learning, often lacked infrastructure and teacher support. This has led to significant learning losses and a surge in “learning poverty,” which now affects as much as 70% of children in low-income countries.

For CLIP’s educational initiatives, particularly with Level Up and Space Gen, focusing on narrowing this achievement gap aligns closely with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which seeks to ensure inclusive, quality education for all. Through its programs, CLIP works to alleviate some of the critical barriers students face by providing scholarships, refurbishing educational facilities, and supporting teacher training to create more equitable learning environments.