Education For Children Inside Syria

Dear Friend, 

After eight years of war, the humanitarian situation in Syria has become increasingly dire, creating continued challenges for UNICEF and other partners to provide out-of-school children with learning materials and safe learning spaces. Ongoing violence and danger persist, with a deep and lasting effect on the children. The humanitarian context has put additional stress on the education system, which was already overstretched and under-resourced before the conflict began. An estimated 1.75 million children are out of school currently, with another one million children at risk of dropping out.

To bring education to out-of-school children in Syria, UNICEF USA and UNICEF’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Office have partnered to implement the Self-Learning Program (SLP) in Syria. The SLP aims at reaching out-of-school children with a curriculum and learning environment in parts of Syria where children do not have access to formal education. In vulnerable areas like  East  Ghouta,  Deir  Ez-Zor, Raqqa and Idleb, where non-governmental partners have had no access to unserved communities UNICEF is reaching out-of-school children with Curriculum B, an accelerated learning program implemented in public schools. 

Here are a few achievements to date:

• UNICEF has procured more than 835,000 textbooks and 52,000 school bags as part of the learning kits for distribution to out-of-school children.
• 317 school-in-a-box kits have been procured for distribution in opposition areas.
• At least 118,000 children (more than half of whom are girls) have been enrolled in SLP or Curriculum B activities.
• UNICEF through its partners recruited 6,500 teachers for the implementation of the SLP.

The program continues to be challenged by the volatile security situation in Syria, ministerial requirements for approval of implementing partners, and non-governmental organizations’ overall capacity to respond. However, like you, UNICEF is continuing to put children first and fighting for their rights, well-being and survival.

Thank you.