Since the start of the conflict in Syria more than 4,000 schools, one in four in the country, have had to close as a direct result of the violence. Not only have schools been subject to the effects of direct or indirect bombing but many have been taken over and used by armed groups for military purposes or used as shelters by people who have fled their homes.
Children and teachers in Syria face a daily battle for education. Prior to the conflict, Syria had a promising education system with almost 5% of annual gross domestic product being spent on national learning. Before the war began, 100% of male and 98% of female children were enrolled in primary school and literacy rates for both male and female youth were over 90%.
Today school enrolment rates have plummeted to less than 50% and are even lower where prolonged, heavy fighting has taken place. In People in Need's areas of operation - Idlib and Aleppo Governorates - information collected through the Education Cluster shows that only 172,717 (36%) out of a total of 481,759 children are enrolled in schools.
The sheer scale of the impact on children’s education is such that the future of an entire generation is at risk.
People in Need provides education to thousands war-plagued children in Syria
Our response
Anticipating and responding to the widespread deterioration in education standards across Syria, PIN supports Syrian children in the endeavor to prevent a lost generation. PIN’s education department provides crisis-affected, school-aged boys and girls with essential access to quality education in Aleppo and Idlib governorates. PIN has been working in the education sector in Syria since 2013 and is now one of the key providers of education in north Syria.
Previous PIN education projects
In June 2013, with the support of BMZ funding, PIN began supporting 16 schools in Aleppo governorate. Since June 2013, PIN’s educational assistance has grown and developed into a comprehensive education programme providing strategically sound, sustainable, and holistic support to community-led schools and the Education Departments of Local Councils (LC).
Over the years our education projects in Syria have been supported by BMZ, Save the Children, the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID), the European Union (through the European Neighbourhood Instrument – ENI) and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Current projects
PIN’s education programming offers a comprehensive package to supported schools in order to ensure that crisis-affected school-aged girls and boys are offered complete and quality support in formal education. By providing school-aged girls and boys with complete support the likelihood of a student dropping out is reduced; access to education is enhanced; the 'hidden costs' parents are often burdened with that can prevent their child’s access to education are reduced; the quality of the education provided is enhanced; supported communities are empowered; and a sustainable exit strategy through supporting Local Councils is ensured.
As of this 2015-2016 academic year, PIN supports 20 individual community-led schools located across Aleppo and Idlib Governorates. This support takes a multi-pronged approach, aiming to combat the various ways in which education is suffering in Syria.
PIN’s education programming includes:
- providing financial incentives to school staff;
- covering school operational costs;
- providing learning and teaching materials;
- rehabilitating and furnishing schools;
- conducting structured psychosocial support activities for students;
- delivering teacher training, emergency education training and psychosocial support training to school staff as well as training on matters related to emergency planning and first aid;
- facilitating Community Education Committees to increase local participation in education and build support networks for students, teachers, parents and the wider community
- Supporting and building the capacity of Local Council education departments to deliver and monitor timely and well-coordinated services.
During the 2015-2016 academic year, PIN has supported 20 schools in Idlib and Aleppo Governorates, supporting the following number of school-aged girls and boys:
Furthermore, PIN also supports the following number of school staff:
It is with the generous support of the EU and DfID that PIN’s education programmes continue to strive to prevent a lost generation of Syrian children and youth. Such efforts ensure that despite constraints in an insecure environment, Syrian children do not miss out on essential and quality education and are provided with a supportive environment that facilitates their personal development and well-being.
Read more about our education projects in Syria!
OUR PARTNERS:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
