ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that approximately 7.6 million children in Ethiopia are currently not attending school due to various man-made and natural disasters, according to the latest education cluster update. The quarterly publication, released on Friday, disclosed that nearly 20 percent of schools in the country, amounting to a total of 8,552, have suffered partial or severe damage.
“The education cluster data indicates that 7.6 million children are unable to attend school due to various shocks and hazards across Ethiopia. The ongoing conflicts in Amhara, Oromia, and other regions have significantly contributed to the increased rate of out-of-school children,” stated the report.
The report also highlighted that the longer children are kept out of school, the lower the likelihood of them returning to formal education. Moreover, it cautioned that the education cluster remains one of the most underfunded sectors, with current funds only covering 22 percent of the required support. This amounts to approximately 851,000 children, a figure much lower than what is outlined in the humanitarian response plan for Ethiopia.
The education cluster’s objective is to reach 3.8 million children, which accounts for only 30 percent of the total number of children in need as per the 2023 calculations and planning.
In response to this situation, efforts have been made to distribute teaching and learning materials to 357,948 children, as well as organize back-to-school campaigns in all regions, including Amhara and Tigray, where children’s access to education has been disrupted.
