The Education Crisis in Syria

This is an article written about the current education crisis in Syria that is a result from the constant warfare in the region at this time. A recent study shows that at least 2,400 schools have closed and an additional 1,500 are being used as shelters for displaced people. Education is a target of violence in Syria, over the last five years 31,500 violent attacks have been made on school systems. Parents are reluctant to send their children to school with the chaos resulting in some cities where children have already missed up to two years of schooling. The impact the the conflict in Syria is having on their education could be devastating for the future of Syria if education is not prioritized soon. It could result in fewer children going to school, less schooling and lower literacy rates which would hurt the country in the generation to come. There are currently not as many schools left to attend forcing girls to have to get married at a young age so they can have a protector in the violence instead of schooling. This article says the United States could lead the way to rehabilitation of their education in Syria by supporting an education relief plan. Working on setting up safe places for children to learn is key and good for the children's psychological health. Whether that be in homes or other safe places. Many families have fled to neighboring countries such as Jordan where 29,000 children have been given access to their schools despite their overcrowding issue they had before.

This is a social issue because it talks about the effects war and conflict are having on education, the children of Syria and their country's future. It also mentions the problem in Jordan with overpopulation in schools which goes along with what we have been discussing in class about demography and emigration. The families are being forced to leave their own county to find better opportunity and in this case also safety in another country. Education is an important issue that paves the way for a countries future and makes it stronger, without the proper education and learning for children the consequences of an uneducated generation could be extreme and result in an even worse situation then what is already at hand.


Sarah Middleton
3/22/2013
8:19 am

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/up-front/posts/2013/03/21-education-obama-trip-middle-east-jalbout-winthrop