Educational Challenges in Syria

The Borgen Project: ‘The Education Crisis in Syria’ accessible in <https://borgenproject.org/education-crisis-in-syria/>

Syria’s educational system has faced challenges for a long time, but the situation improved before the war’s outbreak in 2011. In the decades that preceded the crisis, the educational sector in Syria was witnessing improvements concerning school and university enrolments. Nevertheless, the Syrian government was, at the time, taking initiatives and showing interest in fighting illiteracy as well as increasing the number of primary and preparatory schools throughout the country. 

Following the outbreak of the civil war, Syrian children of all ages were left without access to education. According to recent data published, there are more than 2.4 million Syrian children currently out of school.

 

Syrian children are currently facing several challenges that make it extremely difficult to attend their school or continue their education. The conflict has led to people’s displacement from their homes, poverty, and the inability of families to pay for school materials. In addition, the Syrian civil war has dangerously normalized and dramatically increased the issue of child labour. The stories shared by some of the affected children highlight the gravity of their situation. Issa, a 12-year-old boy, expressed his feeling of bitterness when he could not attend school for years after his family was displaced due to the war. Or Salim, a victim of displacement and child labour who was forced to seek refuge in Lebanon, where he currently works daily carrying potato bags. 

Albeit the employment of children under the age of 15 is illegal under Syrian legislation, no prominent governmental initiatives have been taken in the past few years to address this issue. However, UNICEF is taking steps to tackle the problem by adopting and implementing friendly policies designed to assist Syrian children in the enjoyment of their rights. 

A 2012 International Labour Organisation report recommended the Syrian national legislation to reform and impose further regulatory norms in the field of children’s work. The report also highlights how Syrian penalty laws are not severe enough to prevent employers from hiring children. Although the Syrian crisis slowed down the ILO’s work, in 2018, it adopted a ‘multi-sectoral approach’ to prevent child labour. This approach is meant to protect children’s rights to education and livelihood. It is also led and coordinated by several parties, including the Syrian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, as well as the United Nations. Perhaps this multi-sided tactic, including a governmental representative, will reduce the number of children who are working rather than attending school. 

Unfortunately, Syria’s educational system faces other challenges as well. One of these is the limited access to electricity. The electrical energy infrastructure in Syria was damaged severely after the crisis, leaving most cities in the country, such as Aleppo and Damascus, without electricity for most hours of the day. Most schools in Syria were affected, and students had to struggle in dark classrooms. However, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and UNICEF intervened in some places and saved the situation. For instance, in Aleppo, ECHO and UNICEF supplied 30 schools with solar panels, a successful step that positively changed the situation for students and teachers.

Nonetheless, implementing solar panels in all schools throughout the country is lengthy and costly. Since students of all age groups need electricity at home to prepare for exams, it would also fail to solve the issue in its entirety. The situation is undoubtedly precarious, but the government can take initiatives to assist students to study in more adequate conditions. Both the UN and ECHO could provide public city libraries with solar panels for electricity generation. This would allow students to learn in quiet and well-lit surroundings, thus contributing to their educational success. 

Another major challenge in Syria’s educational sector is the severe lack of fuel which directly affects students’ capabilities to access educational institutions. The Covid-19 pandemic, in addition, forced schools and universities to shut down for months, leading to the dropping out of a vast number of students. 

As mentioned above, UNICEF is taking several steps to improve these circumstances and combat the so-called ‘lost generation’. According to recently published data, UNICEF has not only been active in Syria throughout the past ten years but has also helped over 1.5 million children since 2016 by providing them with study materials and better chances for education. Furthermore, UNESCO has played an active role in Syria by launching several platforms to support Syrian children, psychologically as well as educationally. An example of this can be seen in the creation of “The Second Chance Program” by CapED, which assists the students who failed their final exams in retaking these during the summer, thereby providing them with a second opportunity to move onto the next grade. 

Overall, the situation in Syria is chaotic and complex, and governmental administrations fail to prioritise education. According to a report published by The Middle East Institute in 2022, the limited and short-term nature of the funding, insufficiency and inefficiency of data collection, and the delays in the embracement of new approaches are significant factors hampering Syria’s educational success. Education in Syria is in dire need of funding and rebuilding to improve students’ situations and guarantee their basic human rights. 

Cover image -Photo by Omar Ram on Unsplash

Written by Noor Mousa 

Edited by Olga Ruiz Pilato 

Introduzione a “La situazione dei bambini nel mondo 2021”

1. Il momento di agire

A seguito della pandemia di Covid-19, il mondo ha assistito a un aumento significativo dei problemi di salute mentale nei bambini e nelle loro famiglie. La pandemia ha evidenziato come gli eventi in tutto il mondo possano influenzare il mondo dentro le nostre teste. Tuttavia, ha anche offerto l’opportunità di ricostruire migliorandoci. Secondo il documento, alla comunità internazionale è stata offerta un’opportunità storica per impegnarsi, comunicare e agire per promuovere, proteggere e prendersi cura della salute mentale di una generazione.

 

2. La sfida ignorata

I problemi di salute mentale sono ancora considerati da molti leader governativi internazionali come sfide minori. Alla luce di ciò, i governi hanno sistematicamente sottofinanziato la salute mentale e non sono stati disposti ad investire di più nella questione. Tuttavia, gli studi dimostrano che le economie nazionali beneficiano di una buona salute mentale della loro popolazione. Per perseguire prosperità e pari opportunità, è importante riconoscere la connessione tra salute mentale e fisica e il benessere delle persone, e l’importanza della salute mentale nel plasmare la vita. Quest’ultimo punto è stato riconosciuto negli Obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile (OSS). L’approccio negligente nei confronti di questo problema è molto costoso per le economie della comunità internazionale. Infatti, il mondo paga circa 387,2 miliardi di dollari all’anno, secondo i calcoli di questo documento fatti da David McDaid e Sara Evans-Lacko del Dipartimento di politica sanitaria della London School of Economies and Political Science. In altre parole, le economie nazionali perdono l’enorme quantità di 387,2 miliardi di dollari in potenziale umano che non contribuisce.

3. Intervista alle persone interessate

È importante ascoltare le esperienze, preoccupazioni e idee di bambini e adolescenti riguardo la salute mentale. L’UNICEF ha collaborato con i ricercatori del Global Early Adolescent Study presso la Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHU) per ospitare discussioni di gruppo focalizzate sulla salute mentale e il benessere. Il progetto è sostenuto dal Wellcome Trust. Da febbraio a giugno 2021, i partner locali hanno facilitato le discussioni di gruppo fra adolescenti dai 10 ai 14 anni e dai 15 ai 19 anni in Belgio, Cile, Cina, Repubblica Democratica del Congo, Egitto, Indonesia, Giamaica, Giordania, Kenya, Malawi, Svezia, Svizzera e Stati Uniti. Le discussioni si sono basate su una guida sviluppata da UNICEF, JHU e partner locali. I dati qualitativi raccolti durante le discussioni sono stati codificati utilizzando un approccio di analisi tematico induttivo e perfezionati durante il processo di analisi dei dati.

 

4. Richieste di aiuto inascoltate

In tutto il mondo, sondaggi evidenziano che quattro persone su cinque credono che nessuno dovrebbe affrontare le sfide della salute mentale da solo. In aggiunta, l’83% dei giovani (tra i 15 ei 24 anni) ha convenuto che la soluzione migliore è condividere le proprie esperienze e cercare sostegno. Secondo un sondaggio condotto dall’UNICEF e dalla Gallup in 21 paesi nella prima metà del 2021, una media di un giovane su cinque (19%) ha ammesso di sentirsi spesso depresso o di avere scarso interesse a impegnarsi in attività.

 

5. Il momento per la leadership

Al centro dell’incapacità delle nostre società di rispondere ai bisogni di salute mentale di bambini, adolescenti e operatori sanitari c’è l’assenza di leadership e impegno. Abbiamo bisogno dell’impegno, soprattutto finanziario, dei leader globali e nazionali e di un’ampia gamma di soggetti interessati (stakeholders) che rifletta l’importante ruolo dei determinanti sociali e di altro tipo nell’aiutare a plasmare positivamente la salute mentale.

Tradotto da Francisca Orrego Galarce da The State of the World’s Children: The Introduction

El Estado Mundial de la Infancia: Introducción

Resumen de la introducción sobre “El Estado Mundial de la Infancia 2021”

 

  1. El momento de actuar

 

Como resultado de la pandemia de Covid-19, el mundo ha sido testigo de un aumento significativo de los problemas de salud mental en los niños y sus familias. La pandemia destacó cómo los eventos en todo el mundo pueden afectar nuestro mundo interior. Sin embargo, la pandemia ofreció la oportunidad de reconstruir mejor. Según el informe, se ha brindado a la comunidad internacional una oportunidad histórica para comprometerse, comunicarse y tomar medidas para promover, proteger y cuidar la salud mental de nuevas generaciones.

 

  1. El desafío ignorado

 

Los problemas de salud mental aún no reciben, gubernamentalmente, la atención que deberían. Los gobiernos han estado subfinanciando sistemáticamente la salud mental y muchos no están dispuestos a invertir más en ella. Estudios muestran que las economías nacionales se benefician de la salud mental positiva de su población. Para poder prosperar e igualar oportunidades, es importante reconocer tanto la conexión entre la salud mental y física y el bienestar, como la importancia de la salud mental en la configuración de los resultados de la vida. Esto último fue reconocido en los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS). El enfoque negligente de este asunto es muy costoso para las economías de la comunidad internacional. De hecho, el mundo paga aproximadamente 387 200 millones de dólares americanos al año, según los cálculos de David McDaid y Sara Evans-Lacko, del Departamento de Políticas Sanitarias de la Escuela de Economía y Ciencias Políticas de Londres, para este informe. En otras palabras, las economías nacionales pierden la enorme cantidad de 387 200 millones de dólares estadounidenses en potencial humano no aportado.

  1. Entrevista de la persona de interés

 

Es importante escuchar las experiencias, inquietudes e ideas de los niños y adolescentes cuando se trata de salud mental. UNICEF se asoció con investigadores del Estudio Global sobre la Primera Infancia de la Escuela de Salud Pública Johns Hopkins Bloomberg (JHU) para organizar debates de grupos focales sobre salud mental y bienestar. El apoyo para el proyecto provino de Wellcome Trust. De febrero a junio de 2021, los socios locales facilitaron discusiones de grupos focales para adolescentes de 10 a 14 años y de 15 a 19 años en Bélgica, Chile, China, República Democrática del Congo, Egipto, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordania, Kenia, Malawi, Suecia, Suiza y Estados Unidos. Las discusiones siguieron una guía desarrollada por UNICEF, JHU y socios locales. Partiendo de estas discusiones, los datos cualitativos se codificaron utilizando un enfoque de análisis temático inductivo y se refinaron a lo largo del proceso de análisis de datos.

 

  1. Llamadas no escuchadas

 

En todo el mundo, las encuestas destacan que cuatro de cada cinco personas en todo el mundo creen que nadie debería tener que enfrentarse a los problemas de salud mental por su cuenta. En cambio, una media del 83% de los jóvenes (de 15 a 24 años) estuvo de acuerdo en que la mejor solución es compartir experiencias y buscar apoyo. Según una encuesta realizada por UNICEF y Gallup en 21 países en a principios del 2021, una media de uno de cada cinco jóvenes (19%) informó que a menudo se sentía deprimido o carecía de interés con respecto a participar en actividades.

 

  1. Tiempo de liderazgo

 

En el centro del fracaso de nuestras sociedades para responder a las necesidades de salud mental de los niños, adolescentes y cuidadores se encuentra la ausencia de liderazgo y compromiso. Necesitamos el compromiso, especialmente el compromiso financiero, de los líderes mundiales y nacionales y de una amplia gama de partidos interesados que refleje el importante papel de los determinantes sociales y de otro tipo para ayudar a dar forma a los resultados de salud mental.

 

Translated by Olga Ruiz Pilato from [The State of the World’s Children: The Introduction]