Education

Investing in children’s education today for a better tomorrow

Young Syrian refugee child at learning center in Turkey
UNICEF/2016/Sebastian Rich

The challenge

While enormous progress has been made to ensure more children have access to quality education worldwide, some 262 million children and youth remain out of school, and 1 in 4 of all school-aged children out of school live in crisis-affected countries.   

Without access to education, a generation of children living in conflict will grow up without the skills they need to contribute to their countries and economies, exacerbating the already deprived living conditions for these children and their families.

The solution

The European Union (EU) is a crucial partner of UNICEF in their work to make sure that every child learns, particularly the most disadvantaged: girls, children with disabilities, those battling chronic poverty, or members of minority groups.

 

Keeping children safe and learning during emergencies

Education can be a lifesaver in conflict zones. Schools can protect children from abuse, exploitation, and recruitment by armed groups. This is why the EU and UNICEF have increasingly focused on education in emergencies programmes and projects. The EU has become the most important donor worldwide for education in emergencies, with the EU’s humanitarian aid allocating 10% of its total annual budget to this sector. 

 

Securing a better future for children through education

UNICEF works closely on long-term education programmes with the European Union’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) and the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR).

Together we have worked on thirty-two projects relating to education over the period 2014-2018, enabling children worldwide to reach their full potential through education. Additionally, the partnership works closely with governments to strengthen and better equip the existing education systems.

Through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian crisis – also known as the ‘Madad’ fund – approximately 3.3 million Syrian children now living in neighbouring countries have benefited from education support from UNICEF. 

Some of the education projects funded by the EU:

education cash transfer programme turkey

Conditional cash transfers for education in Turkey

Aimed at supporting the education of Syrian and non-Syrian refugee children and increasing their attendance to formal schooling

Mauritanie education

Education and protection for children in Mauritania

To help build resilience and peace in the country 

Greece education non-formal

Education and protection response for children in Greece

Seeks to increase the safety and well-being of refugee and migrant children through the delivery of educational and child protection services including shelter and accommodation

Resources

Schoolchildren caught in the crossfire

Children live under the constant threat of shelling

See the story

Sirin, 9 years old: inspired by school to become a teacher

After-school support helps unlock opportunities for refugee and migrant children in Greece

See the story

Education in emergencies

Keeping children safe and learning during emergencies

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Adolescents & Youth

Empowering young people through skills and opportunities

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