Current events in Niger highlight a worrying reality: more than 70% of refugee children do not attend school. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), this situation is particularly alarming as the number of refugee children has increased by 9% over the past year.
Niger welcomes nearly 200,000 refugee children from neighboring countries such as Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso. These children, often accompanied by their families, seek refuge in the country due to the conflicts and crises plaguing their country of origin. In addition, Niger also has 200,000 displaced children within its borders.
Faced with this alarming reality, efforts have been made over the past year to improve the schooling of refugee children. Thanks to the support of the international community, three out of ten refugee children were able to benefit from an education, compared to two out of ten the previous year. However, this progress remains fragile and the challenges remain considerable.
Charlotte Berquin, education specialist at UNHCR’s West Africa office, highlights the importance of collaboration between the government, the Ministry of Education, UNHCR and partners involved in the education sector. Awareness campaigns, improvements to school infrastructure, the distribution of school and hygiene kits, as well as improved school canteen programs and scholarships have contributed to this improvement in the schooling of refugee children.
Despite this progress, it is however essential to emphasize that more than 70% of refugee children in Niger remain excluded from the education system. The political and security instability experienced by the country represents a major obstacle to improving the situation. However, it is essential to maintain efforts to ensure access to education for all refugee children, in order to offer them future prospects and contribute to their social and economic integration.
The education of refugee children in Niger is a crucial issue which requires continued mobilization on the part of the international community and local actors. By investing in the education of refugee children, we are investing in the future, offering them hope for a better future and promoting the construction of a more just and equitable society. It is therefore imperative to make the education of refugee children a top priority.