393 million children unable to read: The worldâs shocking lost potential A new analysis tool illustrates the scale of the global learning crisis More than 393 million children have failed to gain the basic literacy skills at age 10 since world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, according to a new analysis tool launched today. The Lost Potential Tracker â created by the ONE Campaign, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Save the Children â is an interactive tool designed to measure the scale of the global learning crisis. For the first time ever, education experts and the public can track, in real time, the increasing number of children who are unable to read and understand a simple sentence by age 10. The Lost Potential Tracker also makes accessible the stories of children affected by the global learning crisis, and allows users to step into the shoes of a policymaker and experience first-hand how effective financing can help turn the tide for children.