International Rescue Committee (IRC) has said that the education of about 224 million children is affected by crises globally.
The group raised the alarm at this year’s International Day for Education, warning that the development is happening at a time of growing peril for millions of children and youths worldwide, whose education has been disrupted by the crises.
In a statement, IRC’s Senior Director for Education, Emma Gremley, said: “The challenge of honouring the right of every child to quality education is growing more daunting. Factors that include an estimated 258 million children and youths out of school worldwide, shrinking government budgets and rising interest rates mean that education is in emergency, which historically has only received about five per cent of all humanitarian spending, and is set to become even more strapped for funds and other resources. The global picture is dire.”
According to IRC, with committed support and sustained funding, evidence-based solutions to education challenges can have a profoundly positive impact on children, their families and societies.
“These solutions include learning through play programming across East Africa, alternative learning programmes to help reintegrate out-of-school children in Nigeria and the groundbreaking Ahlan Simsim programme in the Middle East.
“In the year ahead, the Education Unit at IRC and our partners within our organisation and elsewhere will continue the immediate work of delivering these urgently needed education programmes to more than 20 countries around the world. We will also press ahead with our efforts to support a more informed and innovative humanitarian community through rigorous research and a willingness to take informed chances, all with the goal of ensuring every child develops the academic and social-emotional skills they need to lead safe, productive and fulfilling lives.”
