EDUCATION IN EMERGENCIES-THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD.

Jemimah Msheliza
Jul 23, 2017 · 1 min read

Education is a fundamental right, yet in times of conflict and disaster it is often significantly disrupted, denying millions of children the opportunity to have a quality, safe education. Nigeria present the highest number of out-of-school children globally, this is aggravated by the Boko Haram insurgency leaving many children out of school.

Schools are in many instances occupied by armed groups or used as IDP camps making education impossible.

However, education is an urgent priority in emergencies because it provides a safe space for children, where they are protected from physical harm, it also teaches new skills and values such as peace, tolerance, conflict resolution, democracy, human rights and disaster risk reduction, it also helps normalizes children’s lives and improves psychosocial wellbeing.

Because one of the aim of the insurgents is to stop education, the government and other non-governmental organizations should be on their toes to see that education is not thwarted by the activities of the insurgents, so that children will continue learning to ensure bright future for them, their families, communities, and country and at the end prove that the pen is mightier than the sword.

Children in Molai community out of school due to insurgency

#NotAnotherNigerian

Written by

Co-founder Chabash Development and Health Initiative! NEIEF FELLOW

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