OUAGADOUGO: In a concerning development, a new report reveals that a quarter of schools in Burkina Faso have shut their doors due to a surge in violence between militant groups and the government. This alarming situation is sounding the alarm bells for an impending education crisis in the country, with far-reaching consequences for youth.
The report highlighted a significant increase in school closures over the past year, with the number of closed schools rising by almost a third to a staggering 6,149, affecting nearly 1 million students.
Burkina Faso, often described as facing the “world’s most neglected crisis,” has endured years of violence, a situation that has escalated since a coup took place last year. In response, the new military government launched an offensive against militant groups, resulting in allegations of human rights abuses on all sides.
Dr John Agbor, Burkina Faso country director for the UN’s children’s agency (UNICEF) voiced his concerns, stating taht aving such a large number of children out of school because of insecurity risks the future of Burkina Faso’s next generation.
He emphasized the unfortunate reality that children out of school are at a higher risk of being coerced into child labour, recruited into armed groups, or becoming victims of sexual abuse, exploitation, gender-based violence, or early marriage.
The report, jointly released by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and UN agencies, underscores that Burkina Faso now accounts for nearly half of the 13,200 schools that have closed across central and west Africa in the past four years due to insecurity.
Anika Krstic, NRC’s country director for Burkina Faso, shed light on the dire conditions in the few schools that have managed to remain open, citing inadequate facilities and a shortage of teachers. “Those who have stayed say it is a very personal decision. They feel it is their duty to carry on, but it comes at a heavy price. Gunshots sometimes interrupt classes or play,” said Krstic.
The report, which analyzed data from eight countries, calls on governments and the international community to prioritize the safety of schools and expedite negotiations to ensure that school buildings used during conflicts are quickly vacated.
Alarmingly, the report also reveals that only 3.9% of funding appeals for schooling in the region have been met by donors.
Some schools deliberately targeted
In addition to schools being abandoned due to nearby violence, the report also highlights that some schools have been deliberately targeted. In Nigeria, 52 schools have been attacked by militants since January, while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has witnessed a surge in violence in its eastern regions, 31 schools have been targeted.
Felicité Tchibindat, UNICEF’s regional director for West and Central Africa, emphasized the critical importance of protecting schools, stating that protecting schools from threats and violence is a critical step to breaking the cycle of crisis and reducing the likelihood of future conflicts. Schools should be safe places for children.
Last week, Vishna Shah, Save the Children’s regional director of advocacy and campaigns, voiced her concerns, stating that armed violence in the Sahel region “is robbing children of their education and futures” and called for an immediate end to attacks on schools. Shah emphasized that children and teachers must be able to attend school without the fear of violence.
