Enrolment is not the same as learning
Each note collects a few things we read that shape how Oriel will work. We summarise in our own words and link to the source, so you can check every number.
273 million children are out of school
UNESCO's 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report counts 273 million children and adolescents out of school, the seventh rise in a row: about one in six school-age children worldwide. There is good news inside it too. Vietnam has cut its share of out-of-school children by at least 80% since 2000.
Why it matters to us: progress is possible and it is measurable. That is why every Oriel programme will have one simple number we report on.
Source: Vietnam News / VNA, 26 March 2026
In Laos, most children are in school, but many are not yet reading
Action Education and the Vientiane Provincial Department of Education and Sports have launched "Start Smart School" (2026–2029) across seven districts. The article behind the launch gives two numbers side by side: primary enrolment reached 94% in 2025–2026, yet more than 60% of Grade 3 students cannot read or write Lao proficiently or do basic addition and subtraction.
Why it matters to us: this is the gap our first pillar is built for. Getting a child through the door is the start; tutoring with local teachers is what turns attendance into learning.
Source: Action Education, 10 September 2026
Crypto giving keeps growing up
The Giving Block's 2026 annual report says it processed over $100 million in crypto donations in 2025 and more than $300 million since it started in 2018. The report calls this "the rise of the digital donor".
Why it matters to us: more people want to give with digital assets. We think they should also be able to see where every gift goes, which is the promise we are building Oriel around. We are not taking donations yet.