Are we aware that millions of children in other countries are not enrolled in school?
This is in fact what I have learned from my professional contact from UNICEF. There is a estimate of over 57 million primary school aged children who are not in school, and has been little progress of bringing them back. Sub Saharan Africa, unfortunately, accounts for more than one half of this population. Most of these children are suffering from poverty, natural disasters, displacements, diseases, gender, and being exposed to child labor just to name a few. Girls who experience inequality and poverty are affected the most due to having less access to education because of their locations or their families simply cannot cover the cost for their education.
Sad right?
On a brighter note, excellence and equity is the forefront of UNICEF's discussion. As part of their equity strategy, they are working on getting down to the bottom of why so many children are out of school. The financial crisis and lack of funds have denied out of school children their human right to a good education. Because of their commitment to children and their well being, UNICEF has created programs that will ensure all children with access to a stabled education, to produce a healthy future. Some of those programs include:
*Education for All
*Millennium Development Goals
*World Education Forum's Dakar Framework for Action
*A World Fit for Children
*United Nations Girls' Education Initiative
*School Fee Abolition Initiative
"Universal access to quality education is not a privilege - it is a basic human right." -UNICEF
Hi Latasha,
ReplyDeleteThat is sad, just like in Colombia, that all children are not in school and must worry about bigger problems like working to help support the family. That is great that UNICEF is trying to increase school participation and get to the bottom of why children are not attending school. Thanks for sharing.
Stephanie
Latasha,
ReplyDeleteIt is truly devastating to me that so many children are not able to attend school for whatever reason. It is hard for me to imagine that children are forced to work instead of attending school. Glad to hear that UNICEF is working to change these ways and hopefully can in the very near future. Seems like these children do not have a chance to change and get out of these situations that they are born into and that without some help probably never will. Thanks for sharing!
Amy McCoig