Over 14,000 African Schools Closed Due to Conflict and Insecurity.
Millions of African children are currently missing out on education as schools grapple with the challenges posed by armed conflict and widespread insecurity.
According to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), as of June 2024, over 14,300 schools have been forced to close across 24 African nations. The countries most severely affected by these closures include Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and Niger.
Christelle Hure, representing the NRC’s Western Central Africa office, reported that the school closures, driven by violence, have directly affected around 2.8 million children.
She explained that the shutdown of schools not only deprives children of an education but also leaves them more vulnerable to various protection risks.
“The first reason is really for military purposes. It’s about regaining or gaining control over territory,” she said.
Vulnerability and Recruitment by Armed Groups
Humanitarian organizations warn that without access to education, children are more susceptible to recruitment by armed groups. The interruption of their schooling further reduces their chances of returning to classes, exacerbating their vulnerability.
Additionally, the absence of formal education exposes children to violence and exploitation, reinforcing cycles of poverty and instability.
The current number of closed schools represents an increase of 1,100 compared to the previous year when 13,200 schools were closed due to conflict and insecurity.
In some regions, ongoing violence has nearly crippled the education system. UNICEF reports that one in four schools in Burkina Faso is currently closed, while in the DRC, at least 1,450 schools had shut down by January 2024, affecting 500,000 students.
Risasi Mwinyi Patience, a 47-year-old Congolese refugee residing in Uganda, is among those impacted by the education crisis. He lost his wife to the conflict in Congo’s Ituri province and fled to Uganda in April 2024.
His two children, previously enrolled in grades four and six at a school in the DRC, are now facing the challenge of restarting their education in Uganda.
The language barrier has compounded their struggles, as Congolese schools teach in French, but their new Ugandan school uses English. As a result, both children have had to repeat classes, adding to their difficulties in the refugee camp.
Reasons Behind School Closures
Christelle Hure noted that the causes of school closures vary across countries, identifying three main factors:
- Military Control: Armed groups often close schools to assert control over territories.
- Symbol of Government Authority: Non-state groups frequently target schools as they are seen as symbols of government power.
- Opposition to Ideologies: In some cases, these groups oppose the ideologies schools promote, such as girls’ education or the teaching of certain languages like French.
Despite the grim overall situation, some progress has been made. Schools in the Central African Republic and Mali have resumed operations as security conditions improve.
In Burkina Faso, around 1,300 schools have reopened since October 2023, following the government’s recapture of areas previously held by terror groups.
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The Oslo-based NRC has urged the international community, governments, and all warring factions to prioritize the protection of education.
They call for an end to attacks on schools and emphasize the importance of ensuring the safety of both learners and teachers to restore education in conflict-affected regions.
Over 14,000 African Schools Closed Due to Conflict and Insecurity.
