On the occasion of the International Day for the Protection of Education from Attacks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said it was important to defend “paradises of education”.
“Education is not only a fundamental human right, but a path to a better future for every person and a more peaceful, understanding world,” he underlined.
He revealed a startling truth: around the world, 224 million children and youth are in urgent need of educational support – including 72 million who are out of school overall – due to crises such as armed conflict.
Double attacks
According to a comprehensive report on children and armed conflict published by the UN chief earlier this year, there was a 112 percent increase in attacks targeting schools and hospitals from January to December 2022, with hotspots identified in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Israel, Palestine, Myanmar and Mali.
In Afghanistan, for example, the UN has verified a total of 95 attacks on civilian targets, including 72 on schools.
The report attributes 50 percent of serious violations to non-state armed groups. The other half involved government forces, who were primarily responsible for the most serious crimes, including the killing and maiming of children, brutal attacks on schools and hospitals, and blocking humanitarian access.
The UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Friday that by the end of 2022, the total number of school-age refugees worldwide will rise by almost 50 percent from 10 million in 2021 to 14.8 million, mainly due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Disrupted learning experience
As Mr Guterres states: “Attacks on students, teachers, educational staff and schools are all too common, cruelly disrupting the education of young learners and causing untold psychological and physical damage that can last a lifetime. ”
One of the clear signs of the education deficit is the startling statistic that 763 million people around the world – adults and youth – do not have even basic skills.
‘Oases of safety and learning’
The Secretary-General urged all countries to ensure the protection of schools, children and teachers at all times, through measures such as the Safe Schools Declaration and the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.
Through joint efforts, Mr. Guterres believes, schools can become “a haven of safety and learning for every child, wherever they live.”