The British Guardian: A quarter of schools are closed in Burkina Faso as fighting escalates after the coup

September 14, 2023 (The Guardian) A quarter of schools in Burkina Faso are now closed after a sharp escalation in fighting between militants and the government, according to a new report warning of a looming education crisis in the region.

The number of closed schools in the country has risen by nearly a third over the past year to 6,149, affecting nearly 1 million students.

The newspaper also described Burkina Faso as experiencing "the world's most neglected crisis," with years of violence that has escalated since last year's coup. The new military government has launched an offensive against armed groups, which has seen allegations of human rights abuses by all sides.

"Having such a large number of children out of school due to insecurity threatens the future of the next generation in Burkina Faso," the Guardian added.

“Children who are out of school are more likely to be forced into child labour, recruited into armed groups, or be victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, gender-based violence, or early marriage,” said Dr. John Agbor, UNICEF Country Director in Burkina Faso.

According to the newspaper, the report, released by the Norwegian Refugee Council and UN agencies on Wednesday, Burkina Faso now accounts for nearly half of the 13,200 schools that have closed due to insecurity in Central and West Africa over the past four years.

The newspaper also reported that Annika Krstic, the Norwegian Refugee Council's country director in Burkina Faso, said that conditions in the schools that remained open were poor, with only a few teachers remaining. "Those who stayed say it's a very personal decision. They feel it's their duty to continue, but it comes at a high price. Gunfire sometimes interrupts classes or play."

According to the newspaper, the report, which examined data from eight countries, called on governments and the international community to focus on making schools safe and prioritize negotiations to ensure the rapid evacuation of school buildings occupied during fighting.
The organizations said that only 3.9% of funding appeals for education in the region have been met by donors.

According to the report, while many schools had to be abandoned due to nearby fighting, some were targeted. In Nigeria, 52 schools have been attacked by militants since January. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has seen a sharp increase in violence in the eastern part of the country, the number has reached 31.

"Protecting schools from threats and violence is a crucial step to breaking the cycle of crisis and reducing the likelihood of future conflict," said Felicity Tshibindat, UNICEF's regional director for West and Central Africa, according to The Guardian. "Schools must be safe places for children."

The newspaper also reported that last week, Vishna Shah, Save the Children's regional director of advocacy and campaigns, said that armed violence in the Sahel "robs children of their education and their futures." She added, "Attacks on schools must stop now. Children and teachers must be able to go to school without fear of violence."