Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest number of out-of-school children. 98 millionand the only region where this number is increasing.
Central and South Asia has the second largest out-of-school population, 85 million.
Educational goals in jeopardy
“Nobody can accept this situation.” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stressed the need to respect the right of every child to an education.
“Given these results, the goal set by the United Nations to provide quality education for all by 2030 is at risk of not being met,” she warned. “We need global mobilization Put education at the top of the international agenda”
Azoulay will return to his calling at the landmark Transformational Education Summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 19th.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened the summit to mobilize action and solutions, including to reverse the learning losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
© UNICEF/Tanya Bindra
A child sits at a desk in a UNICEF-supported public primary school in Douala, Cameroon.
eliminate gender inequality
On a more positive note, UNESCO data confirms: The gap between the proportion of girls and boys out of school has narrowed globally.
In 2000, the gender gap was 2.5 percent for children of primary school age and 3.9 percent for upper secondary school.
These gaps are reduced to zeroalthough regional disparities remain.
Uncertainty clouds Ukraine’s return to class
In this regard, 4 million boys and girls in Ukraine face an uncertain start to the school year, UNICEF, head of the United Nations Children’s Fund, said Thursday.
Katherine Russell capped off a three-day trip to the country where she met with students, parents and teachers. scars of warnow in its 7th month.
“Children are returning to school, many of which were destroyed during the war. hesitate to send the child to schoolI don’t know if they are safe,” she said.
Thousands of schools across Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed by the fighting, and less than 60% are considered safe and eligible to reopen.
Ms Russell visited a primary school that had been damaged and repaired in the early weeks of the conflict. Due to the school’s bunker capacity, she could only attend 300 students at a time, a mere 14% of her pre-war capacity.
© UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson
A 12-year-old girl stands in front of her school in Kharkov, Ukraine. She was destroyed in an air raid and she decided to study online.
“Air-raid shelters instead of playgrounds”
UNICEF is working with Ukrainian authorities to get children back to learning – In the classroom if deemed safe, or through online or community-based alternatives when face-to-face teaching is not possible.
About 760,000 children have received formal or non-formal education since the war began. Additionally, more than 1.7 million children and caregivers have benefited from UNICEF-supported mental health and psychosocial support interventions.
“Ukrainian schools Resources are desperately needed to build bunkers instead of playgrounds, kids are being taught about unexploded ordnance instead of road safety,” Russell said. “This is a harsh reality for Ukrainian students, parents and teachers.”
Getting children back to learning requires efforts such as rebuilding schools, providing teachers and students with laptops, tablets and supplies, and teaching children and teachers how to stay safe during war.
The ‘Sad Reality’ That Affects Young Men’s Minds
Russell said Ukrainian children’s education has been dramatically damaged.
“More than two years after the COVID-19 pandemic and six months after the war escalated, their physical and mental health is taking a toll. A sad reality for many. Much more must be done to address what has been.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian children who are now refugees face a different problem. About 650,000 people in the 12 host countries were not yet enrolled in the national education system at the end of July.
UNICEF supports almost half in formal or non-formal education. UN agencies are also working with governments and partners to ensure that Ukrainian refugee children are enrolled in school or have access to online learning.
© UNICEF/Anton Krakowski
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell (left) visits a badly damaged school in Zhytomyr, Ukraine.
troubles in winter
UNICEF provided humanitarian cash transfers to an additional 616,000 people across Ukraine, including the most vulnerable families. But as the winter wore on, Mr. Russell was terrified. Needs can outpace resources.
“Without peace, the lives of Ukrainian children and their families becomes even more challenging As winter approaches,’ she said
“We know sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall are just around the corner in the next few months, so UNICEF is working with governments and partners to pre-stock winter supplies such as winter clothing, shoes, generators, heaters and wood pellets. I am preparing for.”
During her visit, Ms. Russell also met with First Lady Olena Zelenska, complementing the efforts of the people of Ukraine, including teachers, parents and health workers, and thanking them for the longstanding partnership between the government and UNICEF. did.
She also spoke on how to further strengthen the collective response to humanitarian crises and the importance of having safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access to all children in need of lifesaving assistance. also talked about