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PO Box A524
Sydney South NSW 1235, Level 11, 227 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000

Telephone: 1800 812 164

© 2025 Opportunity International AustraliaABN 83 003 805 043


Rewrite the future through
    education

School fee loans make education more accessible, while loans to schools help leaders provide higher quality education to their communities.

Nearly 1 in 5 school-aged children are out of school.

3 out of 5

A quality education is a fundamental human right. Every additional year of education generates a 7.6% increase in a child’s future earnings – helping to break the cycle of poverty. For those living in poverty, quality education is far too often a luxury that families simply cannot afford.

Although government schools are often low-cost or free, many suffer from overcrowding, underfunding, chronic teacher absenteeism, strikes or bureaucracy issues that make it nearly impossible for students to learn even basic literacy or numeracy skills. Low-cost, entrepreneur-run private and community schools are a fast-growing solution, but come with issues of their own – school fees and textbooks are expected to be paid as a lump sum at the start of the year, a sum that can be too costly for families living day-to-day. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the barriers to education for children in poor communities – many of whom face significant learning losses and may never return to school.

That's where education loans come in.

Small loans help by giving parents the option of paying school fees and associated costs for uniforms and textbooks up front at the start of the school year, allowing them to pay this back in small, regular instalments. School fee loans make school fees manageable, encouraging families to prioritise their children's education and providing the tools to do so. School fee loans are providing families with the ability to spread out the costs of sending their children back to school while they recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.

School improvement loans help create quality classrooms in low-cost community schools, allowing school administrators to improve the quality of education they provide. Affordable, independent schools will play a crucial role in filling gaps in education systems, recovering learning losses and ensuring access to quality education beyond the pandemic. Alongside the funding that allows them to invest in better infrastructure or resources, school leaders are supported to continually improve the quality of the education they provide through Opportunity's EduQuality program.

With access to quality education, the next generation has the chance to break free from the cycle of poverty for good.

How you can help invest in better education

School Fee Loans give parents the option of paying school fees and associated costs in small repayments throughout the year instead of a lump sum, allowing them to prioritise education.

School Improvement Loans help schools provide higher quality education by allowing them to invest in infrastructure, teaching and learning aids and other equipment that facilitates better learning opportunities.

Education Quality support to school leaders helps to continually improve the quality of the education that community schools are helping provide.

In 2024, we helped 

47,158 families

use school fee loans to educate their children across Asia.

HELENA'S STORY

Sending her daughters to school with the help of a school fee loan 

In her village in Indonesia, Helena stands in front of her home, beaming and hugging her two daughters. The girls are dressed neatly in school uniform – a symbol to Helena of her family’s hard work and of the better future she dreams of for her children.  

An education loan from Opportunity International Australia’s local program partner has helped pave the way for Helena’s daughters to go to school.

For a long time, Helena’s family struggled in poverty, relying on the small income her husband could earn while Helena stayed home to look after the children.

Their home was made entirely of bamboo, with a simple dirt floor. There was little money to spare.  As well as the education loan, Helena used another loan to grow her own small business weaving traditional ikat (a dyed textile popular in Indonesia) and sarongs. She weaves the patterns on a loom outside her home while the girls are at school, and puts every cent she earns towards her daughters’ education.

You can help today.

Each $10 you give can reach 1 child with better education in Asia.


Donate today to help Opportunity International Australia provide access to better education so that more children can reach their potential and live empowered lives, free from poverty.

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