Burkina Faso has “passed the dramatic mark of one million children” affected by the closure of schools due to the security crisis, the NGO Save the Children has warned in a statement.
Many schools are closed because of the insecurity that has prevailed in Burkina Faso for several years.
Referring to data from the Technical Secretariat of Education in Emergency Situations, a structure of the Ministry of Education, Save the Children reported that as of 31 October 2022, the number of closed educational institutions in the country has increased from 4,258 to 5,709.
These closures represent about 22 percent of educational institutions and affect 1,008,327 students, including 490,622 girls (48.66 percent) and 517,705 boys (51.34 percent), as well as 28,919 teachers, including 9,171 women and 19,748 men, it said.
“This is a dramatic situation that calls on the authorities and the various actors in the education sector. For the time being, and given the urgency, it is essential for governments, donors and the humanitarian community to find and fund immediate alternative solutions to mitigate the risks associated with this situation,” said Benoit Delsarte, Country Director of Save the Children.
He explained that in addition to depriving children of their right to education and intellectual development, the closure of schools exposes them to many other risks that permanently compromise their well-being and future.
Benoît Delsarte called on all stakeholders to fully implement the Declaration on Safe Schools (DSS).
”This is an indispensable condition for the protection of the right to education for all children, especially those living in areas affected by crises and conflicts” he insisted.
Burkina Faso has been facing jihadist attacks for the past six years, which have caused numerous deaths, the displacement of 1.7 million people and the closure of more than 5,000 educational facilities.
DS/ac/lb/as/APA