5 million children would have seen their education interrupted after the start of the war in Ukraine

Therefore, UNICEF calls on the international community to help ensure learning opportunities for Ukrainian children

MADRID, 24 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has appealed to the international community to help guarantee learning opportunities for children in Ukraine and in refugee host countries, citing more than 5 million children and girls whose education has been interrupted after 11 months of war.

Since February 24, 2022, when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, more than five million minors have seen their education interrupted, which is why UNICEF has called on International Education Day for greater international support to guarantee that childhood "does not continue to be left behind".

"Schools and early childhood learning environments provide a crucial sense of structure and security for children, and missing out on learning could have lifelong consequences," said UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. , Afshan Khan.

"There is no pause button. It is simply not an option to postpone children's education, and return to it once other priorities have been addressed, without risking the future of an entire generation," Khan added.

The continued use of explosive weapons, even in populated areas, would have led to thousands of schools, kindergartens and other educational facilities across the country being damaged or destroyed. At the same time, many parents and caregivers are reluctant to send children to school for security reasons, the agency has been able to detail.

Inside Ukraine, UNICEF is working with the Ukrainian government to help children learn again, in classrooms when deemed safe and through online or community-based alternatives if face-to-face education is not possible.

"While more than 1.9 million boys and girls accessed learning opportunities online and 1.3 million children enrolled in a mix of face-to-face and online, recent attacks on electricity and other energy infrastructure have led to widespread blackouts. and have left almost every child in Ukraine without sustained access to electricity, which means that even attending virtual classes is an ongoing challenge," the organization warned in a statement.

In this sense, he stressed that the situation outside of Ukraine "is also worrying", stressing that two out of three refugee children are not currently enrolled in the educational system of the host countries.

This is due, according to UNICEF, to several factors such as the scarcity of educational resources, and the fact that, at the beginning of the crisis and throughout the summer, many refugee families would have opted for online learning, instead of attending to local schools, as they hoped they could return home quickly.

"UNICEF will continue to work with the Government of Ukraine and the governments of host countries to provide solutions that help children in conflict areas, as well as those who have been displaced from their homes, to continue their education." , Khan has indicated.

Inside Ukraine, the UN agency calls for an end to "attacks" on educational facilities and other civilian assets, including the energy infrastructure on which children and their families depend. It has also called for more support to ensure that children have access to educational materials and supplies so that they can continue to learn and stay connected to their peers and teachers.

In refugee-hosting countries, UNICEF has requested that the integration of Ukrainian refugee children into national education systems be prioritized, especially in early childhood and primary education, with qualified teachers, educational materials and spaces available to support their learning. face to face, development and well-being.

"It is important that the relevant authorities identify and overcome the regulatory and administrative barriers that hinder children's access to formal education at all levels and provide clear and accessible information to refugee families. When access to the educational system cannot be guaranteed immediately, UNICEF calls for other learning pathways to be provided, especially for children of secondary school age."