Education For Children Inside Syria

Dear Friend,  

Prior to the start of the conflict in 2011, Syria had a high enrollment rate in basic education - one of the best in the Middle East. Now, more than two decades of educational progress have been lost because of the crisis. 

The protracted nature of the crisis has weakened the capacity of the education system to address critical needs in the country. Seven years into the conflict, 5.8 million children are in need of education assistance, including 1.7 million out of school children and an additional 1.3 million children who are at risk of dropping out. The formal education system has lost over one third of its education personnel. The total economic loss due to dropout from basic and secondary education is estimated to be $11 billion, equivalent to about 18 percent of the Syrian GDP. 

Syrian children face multiple disadvantages and barriers to an education, including fear about safety, lack of protective learning environment and limited access to alternative education in their communities. There are 1.2 million children living in hard-to-reach areas, including 170,000 living under siege in areas where civilian movement and the flow of humanitarian aid are heavily restricted. One in three schools cannot be used because it is either damaged, destroyed or sheltering displaced families or used for military purposes. Students face serious risks by simply attending school. In 2017, there were 67 verified attacks on education facilities and personnel. Children in school also face challenges related to overcrowding and a lack of teaching and learning materials. 

UNICEF is working to meet the education needs of all Syrian children and support the country’s future generations. Through the Syria Self-Learning Program, UNICEF aims to address gaps in access to quality learning opportunities for children in the hardest-to-reach areas who have missed out on schooling due to the conflict. This innovative program provides children who have no access to formal education opportunities with an alternative education in line with the national curriculum.  

For Syrian children who have been affected by years of conflict, access to education provides immediate benefits, reducing the effects of trauma and offering stability, structure and protection from violence and exploitation. It also secures long term benefits, enabling children to build a better future for themselves and their families. The lack of access to a quality education in a safe environment stands in the way of sustainable development everywhere, including Syria. 

Your investment in the Syria Self-Learning program will have DOUBLE the impact! Thanks to the generosity of the Education Above All Foundation, all the funds raised for the Syria Self-Learning program are matched. 

Every child, regardless of their circumstances, has a right to education. Please consider a donation to this program. UNICEF needs your support to ensure that, amid conflict, children have access to learning materials, as well as safe spaces to learn, play and feel protected. 

Thank you for putting children first.