Of the millions of people affected by political instability, children are the ones we need to look out for most. With schools turning into shelters, many of the children stuck in their war-stricken countries have lost their basic right to an education. That also rings true for all those seeking refuge on the streets in neighboring countries.
Where is the future of these children heading? Will they even have a future?
In times of war, education is crucial. Not only does it address the psycho-social needs of children, but also offers a stable and safe environment for those who have lost almost everything they'v ever known.
Education is the one thing you can't and should not take away from these children, because education is the one thing that will remain with these children, no matter where the world takes them.
1. To put refugee numbers in perspective, note that by the end of 2013, almost 59 million children of primary education age were out of school globally
2. Refugees are five times less likely to attend school versus other children
3. Only one in every two refugee children attend primary school
Out of the nearly 20 million refugees under UN Refugee Agency, only 50 percent are enrolled in primary education. It is estimated that 58 million children between the ages of 6 and 11 do not have access to education, according to global data from 2014.
4. Of the nearly 20 million refugees under the UN Refugee Agency, 25 percent are estimated to be in secondary school, 1 percent have access to tertiary education
It is estimated that 63 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 do not have access to education.