Education under attack
Today, 24th January 2025, we celebrate the International Day of Education; on this occasion I would like to draw the attention of the world to places where education is under attack. Around the world, attacks on children continue unabated, as those involved in the various conflicts continue to flout one of the most basic rules of war: the protection of children.
The protracted nature of conflicts today is affecting the futures of entire generations of children. Without access to education, a generation of children living in conflict zones will grow up without the skills they need to contribute to their countries and economies, exacerbating the already desperate situation for millions of children and their families.
Without access to adequate classroom infrastructure, the “classroom under a tree” approach is common for those who do manage to attend school
Particularly in the East and Horn of Africa region, we have witnessed and experienced unspeakable things because of violence, conflict, and insurgency which has made the situation all the more devastating for the education sector. Schools should be places of safety and security. A child’s right to education cannot be safeguarded in conflict zones without education itself being protected. The current conflict in Sudan has displaced over 14.8 million people, with 11.5 million people internally displaced and close to 3.3 million having left the country to become refugees in the neighbouring countries of South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Egypt and Uganda. There, education is under complete attack. According to the UN over 53% of the 14.8 million displaced persons are children under the age of 18 and this massive displacement means schools are non-operational and many have in fact become accommodation for the displaced. Children have not been to school in Sudan for 22 months because of this attack on education.
The Sudan conflict has devastated school infrastructures and educational facilities, posing difficulties for student access. The necessary educational infrastructure has become susceptible to exploitation by combatant groups who have occupied education facilities. Schools and educational facilities have been destroyed, looted, or occupied during the ongoing conflict, leaving children with nowhere to turn to for education. Despite international agreements mandating the protection of schools, there are widespread attacks on schools in Sudan by parties to the conflict. Children who went to school 22 months ago are now in the market polishing shoes, selling sweets and providing labour to earn a living. Conflict and attack on education exposes children and youth. Reports from the ongoing conflict in the Sudan indicate that about 10,000 children have been recruited by the different armed groups to fight.[1] With no education opportunities, children are exploited and fight for reasons they do not understand, wasting their own lives away. These children’s futures are set back or stopped in their tracks as they are directly impacted by a lack of access to education. There is a high likelihood of these children not returning to school during peace time. And in fact, children exposed to violence are more at risk of under-achieving and dropping out of school as a result.
The recent UNHCR report, which says that South Sudan has hit a record one million new arrivals from the Sudan crisis, suggests the situation is only going to get worse. As we join to celebrate the International Day of Education, the needs of conflict affected regions of the world need to be prioritised.
UNESCO has dedicated the 2025 International Day of Education to artificial intelligence, this is however not relevant to children who do not even have a pen, a book, a classroom or a teacher because of conflict. The global community needs to re-think humanitarian assistance with education becoming a key pillar because it is only education that gives hope for the future for people affected by conflict. This hope cannot be given when schools become shelters for armed groups, accommodation for internationally displaced persons and refugees, when teachers and pupils are recruited to fight alongside warrying parties to a conflict.
On this occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Education, attention should be given to those children who are suffering far too long without school opportunities because of conflict. There are children living in protracted conflict zones with relative stability but with weak education systems. These countries have no trained teachers, teachers’ salaries are not paid, no classrooms with large pastoral communities with no access to education. Children and youth in refugee camps with no or limited education opportunities, neglecting the provision of education to these groups is equality an attack on education and their future.
As we celebrate this day, with focus on technology, let us remember that artificial intelligence as a theme of the year will be luxury for people affected by, or in, active conflict.
By Dr. David Masua, Chief Education Officer, Windle Trust International