Somalia + 1 more
The on-going drought in the Horn of Africa threatens the new school year
By Rudina Vojvoda NEW YORK, USA, 12 Septembe r 2011 – As the emergency escalates throughout the Horn of Africa, the numbers of those in crisis continue to grow. Currently, 12.4 million people in the region are in need of humanitarian assistance. Somalia is the worst-affected country, with more than 3.2 million people facing starvation.
This on-going crisis poses some crucial challenges to the education services. In south and central Somalia alone, more than 1.8 million children are unable to attend school due to displacement and lack of security.
Meanwhile, in drought-affected areas in Kenya, there are significant shortages of school facilities, teachers and learning materials due to a large number of refugees that are seeking education.
To discuss the beginning of the school year under these extreme circumstances and the importance of education in emergency situations, UNICEF’s new podcast moderator Femi Oke talked to Mr Jumma Khan, Education Cluster Coordinator for Somalia and Mr Garisa Omara, a Senior Assistant Director of Education in the Kenyan Ministry of Education.
“We are very worried about the education situation in Somalia”
Years of conflict, back-to-back droughts accompanied by food crisis, poverty and lack of funding have put the education of children in south and central Somalia in a desperate situation. Only 30 per cent of children were attending primary education before the crises and this number is expected to drop at the beginning of this school year.
“We are very worried about the education situation in that area [south and central Somalia] because there is no Ministry of Education there”, said Mr Khan. Traditionally the education system in these areas is supported by Community Education Committees formed by local leaders, parents and teachers.
“Now the communities are unable to pay the fee, unable to pay the incentives for teachers. Teachers have been displaced because they don’t have any livelihood there”, explained Mr Khan.
Schools in Kenya need immediate assistance
Running from famine and violence, many children from Somalia are going to schools in Kenya. Commenting on the immediate needs, Mr Omara said: “We need teaching and learning materials, putting up infrastructure such as classrooms and supporting mobile schools because most of the people are on the move”.
Supporting this idea, a recent publication by the Education Cluster in Kenya appeals for immediate support in establishing temporary learning centers and additional classroom space to accommodate new students in host communities.
Furthermore, assistance is needed to ensure adequate water and sanitation facilities and provide essential teaching and learning materials for children and teachers.