Safer learning for more than 2 million children caught in Syrian conflict | WPN World People News

More than 2 million children whose lives have been torn apart by the conflict in Syria will have better access to education in safe environments through an agreement signed by the European Union (EU) and UNICEF on October 1.

A boy in first grade, looks through the new school kit he received in his classroom in Damascus.

The grants worth €62 million ($69 million) will scale up UNICEF and the EU’s joint response in providing boys and girls with access to education in protective and empowering environments in Syria, Lebanon and Turkey.

The scale of the education crisis is staggering. Inside and outside Syria, there are 2.7 million children out of school; one in four schools in Syria cannot be used; 52,500 teachers have left their posts; and the loss of school infrastructure is estimated to be worth nearly $700 million.

In neighbouring countries, half of school aged children are out of school especially in Turkey and Lebanon, and schools are over-crowded and under-resourced.

“The needs are enormous. The EU has been at the forefront of the international response to the Syrian crisis, specifically in the education sector in partnership with UNICEF and host governments in the region,” said Johannes Hahn, European Union Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.

UNICEF and the EU warned that with 7.6 million Syrian children in need of humanitarian assistance, the country risks losing an entire generation of children. The commitment to investing in education will help lift children out of despair and vulnerability to exploitation.

Initiatives like “No Lost Generation” (to which the EU has been one of the major partners), boost learning opportunities – including virtual and self-learning – for millions of extremely vulnerable children.

“This funding will help Syrian children live a more normal life and give them prospects for a better future. However, despite these efforts, far too many children remain out of school in the region. All partners have to join forces to alleviate the obstacles that deprive these pupils to their right to education. The EU remains fully committed to contribute to this effort, notably through its strong partnership with UNICEF,” Hahn said.

Part of this support will be provided from the EU’s newly created Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis which is the EU’s first funding instrument with a regional scope.

“Our partnership with the European Union will enable large scale support for the children of Syria. It is absolutely critical that these children are able to continue their education. It is not just their lives that are at stake, but the future of their country and region,” said Geeta Rao Gupta, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director.

Source: United Nations Children's Fund