Lesson
Debt Repayment Surpasses Education Spending
Read this news story in English at three levels, easy, standard, and advanced (B1–C1) — with vocabulary and a comprehension quiz.
Many developing countries are spending more on debt than on education, according to a UN report. This trend is worsening as global aid for education is expected to decline.
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Standard — Natural English
52 words · ~1 min readEasy version (A2–B1)
Many countries are spending more money to pay back loans than to help schools. In 2025, 113 countries spent more on debt than on education. This is a big problem for children who need education.Standard version (B1–B2)
A recent UN report shows that developing countries are spending more on repaying foreign debt than on education. In 2025, 113 countries spent more on servicing their debt than on education, with sub-Saharan Africa spending 3.6 times more on debt. This situation is expected to worsen as global aid for education declines.Advanced version (C1–C2)
According to a report by the UN's education agency, Unesco, developing countries are allocating more resources to repay foreign debt than to invest in education. In 2025, 113 countries were found to spend more on debt servicing than on educational initiatives, with sub-Saharan Africa spending 3.6 times more on debt. The situation is likely to deteriorate further due to anticipated cuts in global education aid, which could decline by up to 30% by 2027. This financial strain hampers economic growth and undermines the ability of these nations to manage their debt effectively.Lesson audio
Standard level
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Test your understanding
01What did the UN report reveal about education spending?
02How much more did sub-Saharan Africa spend on debt compared to education?
03What is expected to happen to global aid for education?
04Which countries have already lost more than 40% of their education aid?
Discussion
How can developing countries balance debt repayment and education funding?
Vocabulary
debt word
money that is owed to someone
“Many countries struggle to pay their debt.”
education word
the process of teaching or learning
“Education is important for children's future.”
aid word
help or support, often in the form of money
“Countries receive aid to improve their education systems.”
spending word
the act of using money to buy goods or services
“The government is spending more on healthcare this year.”
servicing word
the act of making payments on a loan
“Servicing debt can take up a large part of a country's budget.”