UNESCO says the global shift toward hybrid learning has not reached millions of students who still lack reliable devices, internet access, or both. In a policy brief released Thursday, the agency warned that rapid expansion of online classes and massive open online courses has not closed long-standing education gaps.

The report says remote and blended learning can widen opportunity when schools have the tools to support it, but too many students remain locked out by infrastructure shortages and household poverty. In low-income communities, unreliable connectivity and shared devices continue to make consistent participation difficult.

UNESCO urged governments and education systems to treat digital access as a basic requirement for modern schooling, not a luxury. The agency called for investment in connectivity, teacher training, and targeted support for disadvantaged students so hybrid models do not deepen inequality.

The findings arrive as schools and universities continue to rely on digital platforms for parts of teaching and homework. UNESCO said the promise of flexible learning will remain limited unless policymakers address the barriers that keep millions from logging in in the first place.