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ArchiveLesson #113World

17 July 2026 · The Guardian

Debt Repayment Surpasses Education Spending

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 version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

52 words · ~1 min read
A recent UN report shows that developing countries are more on repaying foreign than on . In 2025, 113 countries spent more on their than on , with sub-Saharan Africa 3.6 times more on . This situation is expected to worsen as global for declines.

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Narration includes the headline and summary.

Adapted from The Guardian, 10 July 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.

Key vocabulary

  • debt

    money that is owed to someone

    “Many countries struggle to pay their debt.”

  • education

    the process of teaching or learning

    “Education is important for children's future.”

  • aid

    help or support, often in the form of money

    “Countries receive aid to improve their education systems.”

  • spending

    the act of using money to buy goods or services

    “The government is spending more on healthcare this year.”

  • servicing

    the act of making payments on a loan

    “Servicing debt can take up a large part of a country's budget.”

Quick quiz

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?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

How can developing countries balance debt repayment and education funding?