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Education beyond the front line: Syria

18 September 2016

A child’s well-being and safety are essential to their learning efforts and ability to grow and develop.

In Syria, preserving a secure and child-friendly environment has become increasingly challenging. Over the last five years, the children of Syria have been exposed to traumatizing acts of violence and have suffered heartbreaking losses. In addition, 60 per cent of UNRWA installations were damaged or rendered inaccessible, with 57 schools partially or completely destroyed.

The Agency’s commitment to preserve children’s right to a quality education in Syria goes beyond the front line. Its response is an innovative and comprehensive approach: it provides safe learning and recreational spaces, psychosocial support and summer learning activities, as well as safety and security trainings for both students and staff. 

UNRWA students’ joy, creativity and enthusiasm for learning have survived five years of intense and continuous violence. It is the pride of the Agency to continue providing education services to the 51,000 Palestine refugee children in Syria and further afield affected by the conflict. More than ever, this depends on sustained assistance and funding from donors and partners.

UNRWA will continue to mobilize all resources to alleviate the children’s trauma and sustain their education.

For nearly seven decades, UNRWA has delivered education services to Palestine refugee children. In Syria, the UNRWA education programme reaches 45,000 Palestine refugee students. Palestine Girls School Alliance, Damascus, Syria, February 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadThroughout five years of conflict, children’s access to education in Syria has been strained. Of the 118 UNRWA schools operating in the country before 2011, only 45 remain in use. While 57 schools are damaged or destroyed, several others remain inaccessible or are used as collective shelters. Rafah Alternative Girls School, Husseiniyeh, Syria, April 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadWith infrastructure reduced by 60 per cent and about 70 per cent of students still enrolled compared to pre-conflict levels, many learning spaces have become overcrowded, further hindering UNRWA efforts to provide each and every child with quality education. Khan Dunoun camp, Rif Damascus, Syria February 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadAmong such abnormal circumstances, the priority of UNRWA in Syria has been to preserve the children’s right to education at all costs. UNRWA has developed innovative approaches tailored to the specific challenges of the Syrian context, consolidating the Agency’s Education in Emergencies programme. Al Neirabin School, Mazzeh. Damascus, Syria, July 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadUNRWA is running 21 learning spaces in communities and shelters across Syria. Managed by staff who received safety and security training, the safe spaces provide a secure environment for all children who attend. Khan Dunoun camp, Rif Damascus, Syria, February 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadMany displaced students do not have safe access to UNRWA premises. To help them bridge the learning gap, UNRWA provides self-learning material, both online and offline. Khan Dunoun camp, Rif Damascus, Syria, February 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadUNRWA believes that children’s success in school is also dependent on their well-being. The safe learning spaces are comprised of playgrounds where children are supervised by teachers and psychosocial counsellors. They are encouraged to play and engage in artistic and creative activities and workshops. Palestine Girls School, Alliance, Damascus, Syria, February 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadThe UNRWA education programme also addresses the special needs of the 3,300 children affected by a disability or learning difficulties. The Agency provides rehabilitation classes to help them improve at their own pace. Khan Dunoun camp, Rif Damascus, Syria, February 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadUNRWA will continue to mobilize all resources to alleviate the children’s trauma and sustain their education. Khan Dunoun camp, Rif Damascus, Syria, April 2016 © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid Mohammad

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