Here in Canada, our rituals around school and education touch each and every one of us – from sending our children to school, to memories of our own school days. It is such a commonplace routine in our lives that sometimes we forget how fortunate we are to live in a country where education is available to all.
Even though more children go to school now than ever before in human history, we still have a ways to go before every child is enrolled in school. UNICEF and our partners are working hard to reach the day when there will be quality education available and accessible for every child.
In particular UNICEF is working with families, communities, governments and NGOs to empower adolescent girls and help them navigate the myriad of challenges they encounter. In many countries, but especially those in crisis, girls are less likely to be enrolled in school, as they are often kept at home to assist their families or entered into arranged marriages from a young age.
Providing girls with an education helps break the cycle of poverty: educated women are less likely to marry early and against their will; less likely to die in childbirth; more likely to have healthy babies; and more likely to send their children to school.
When I was recently in Bangladesh visiting camps of Rohingya refugees who had fled violence in Myanmar, I met some of these girls that UNICEF is working to reach.
© UNICEF/UN0158183/Sujan
Even though the illiteracy rate amongst adult Rohingya refugees hovers around 50%, they want their children to go to school. Perhaps as farmers the need for literacy was less important, but since they do not want to return to Myanmar, they know their children will need to be literate. UNICEF now offers classes to almost 90,000 primary school age children in these Temporary Learning Centres and partners have space for 40,000 more.
The centres I saw were well designed. They may not be very spacious, but they aren’t overcrowded – there are about 30 children per class, the same as some classes in Canada. The younger children have play stations like kindergartens do in Canada, and UNICEF works to emphasize the importance of play as well as learning numbers and letters.
Nevertheless the children worked hard to teach me to count to ten in their language, but by the time I mastered 8, 9, 10, I had forgotten how to say 1, 2, 3. I may not have been a good student, but at least my inability to speak was entertaining for the kids.
The work UNICEF is doing in Bangladesh to provide education to the most vulnerable children is the same work that’s being done by dedicated UNICEF staff around the world.
© UNICEF/UNI116533/Pirozzi
For instance, in Niger, children’s education is a national challenge: one in three children do not go to school. For girls, the situation is even worse: only one in two girls goes to primary school, one in 10 to secondary school and one in 50 to high school. With this in mind, UNICEF and the Nigerien Government combined their efforts and made it a top priority to provide a nurturing environment for children in the school and realize their right to education.
Garin Badjini is one of the 600 primary schools in Niger that have committed to work towards obtaining the Child and Girl-Friendly School label by 2013. The approach is targeted at the most disadvantaged areas and aims to promote child-centred teaching, health and hygiene education and non-discriminatory, child rights-based practices. It also seeks to enhance the participation of children, parents and community members in school improvement initiatives.
© UNICEF/UN0220210/Sibiloni
We are currently facing the largest wave of young people in history, with millions of children and youth out of school in crisis-affected countries. Far too many go their entire childhood living in uncertainty and are facing a future with no potential opportunities. For children around the world caught in conflict and disaster, education is a lifeline, especially for girls.
Soon the population of under-30s in the most fragile and unstable countries is going to spike. Adolescent girls in particular are in an incredibly important yet delicate position. They are significantly impacted by the decisions leaders make, yet disregarded in important discussions. They are vulnerable to threats like gender-based violence, discrimination, child, early and forced marriage, early pregnancy and motherhood, and lack of access to healthcare and quality education.
All children, regardless of circumstances, should have equal opportunities in education. However, children often face barriers to accessing education due to personal circumstances, like poverty, gender, ethnicity, orphan status, disability and/or living in a conflict zone. Thanks to global efforts, girls’ education is gaining more momentum and enabling girls to gain confidence and knowledge.
Through my work and travels with UNICEF, I’ve met so many girls with enough talent, optimism and determination to put many of us to shame. Girls can and should grow into future leaders, innovators and educators. Around the world, girls have the potential to create change and inspire progress – if they’re given the chance.
Guest Blogger, Martha Spears, Director, Development (Major Gifts)
UNICEF Canada