March 2024

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According to the UNICEF, the presence of Boko Haram in Nigeria is preventing 1 million children from attending school. This number adds to the estimated 11 million children of primary school age in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger who were already not enrolled in school prior to the beginning of the crisis.

2 000 schools are closed

The conflict in Nigeria and its neighboring countries has led to the closure of 2 000 schools in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Some of those buildings have been closed for more than a year. In addition, hundreds of other schools have been attacked, looted or set on fire by members of the terrorist group.

 “It’s a staggering number […] The conflict has been a huge blow for education in the region, and violence has kept many children out of the classroom for more than a year, putting them at risk of dropping out of school altogether,” said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF’s regional director for West and Central Africa.

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A systemic problem

So far, the UNICEF helped 170,000 children get back to school in the safer areas of northern Nigeria. However, many problems remain. Classrooms are overcrowded since some school buildings are still being used to house displaced people who lost their homes during the conflict. Another issue is that the insecurity is preventing some teachers from going to class. In Nigeria, 600 teachers lost their lives so far.

“The challenge we face is to keep children safe without interrupting their schooling,” Fontaine added. “Schools have been targets of attack, so children are scared to go back to the classroom; yet the longer they stay out of school, the greater the risks of being abused, abducted and recruited by armed groups.”

So far, the UNICEF has received 44% of the funding needed in 2015 to respond to the humanitarian necessities for children in Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad. Next year, the organization will budget approximately $23 million to improve access to education for children affected by conflicts in the four countries.

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SEE ALSO: Boko Haram Surpasses ISIS As World’s Deadliest Terrorist Organization.