Everyone should have access to education, also during a humanitarian crisis. The chance to attend school in a difficult humanitarian situation gives the sense of safety and stability. Even if one has only limited access to education, one can still further broaden one’s knowledge and acquire new skills.

All over the world, millions of children still do not attend school. The reasons may vary, and they depend on the situation in the region. In the case of humanitarian crises, this may be lack of a safe route to school, the fact that the schools have been destroyed, or lack of adequate conditions in the schools (e.g. no bathrooms, lack of access to clean water).

The higher the number of children who have unrestricted access to education and regularly attend school is, the more support they can lend to their community and the local economy in the future.

Education is a basic human right, but tens of millions of children still do not go to school. The reasons are varied – they can be social, economic or cultural:

• Child labour

There are millions of children in the world who have to work instead of going to school, often in physically and mentally exhausting conditions.

• Climate catastrophe

Increasingly frequent disasters and harsh climatic conditions make it impossible for schools to teach and sometimes to function. Buildings and infrastructure are destroyed in disasters.

• The way to school

It is not uncommon that just getting to school is a major challenge, as the route to school can be too long or dangerous.

• Menstruation and pregnancy

When sanitary facilities are not available at school, female students often skip classes during menstruation. Sometimes when girls become pregnant they stop going to school and do not return. 

• Displacement

Children who have had to flee their hometowns live in a state of instability or are on the move – this is also linked to lack of access to education.

• Violence

Schools are not infrequently the targets of armed attacks. Moreover, within the school itself, students have to face harassment and violence from peers and adults, which discourages them from benefiting from education.