Education Cluster rapid assessment warns of massive school drop out in Somalia

NAIROBI/GENEVA – With an estimated 1.8 million children aged between 5-17 years already out of school in South and Central Somalia, a rapid assessment conducted by the Education Cluster in ten regions warns this number could increase dramatically when schools open in September unless urgent action is taken.
The assessment, which was carried out last week, indicates that the movement of an estimated 200,000 school age children, from urban areas or across the border, could cause the gross primary school enrolment – which is already only 30 per cent – to drop even more.

This decline is likely to be compounded by increases in demand for education services in areas where influxes of internally displaced people have been the greatest, such as in Mogadishu.

This population flux may also cause an acute shortage of teachers. Already, most of 10,000 teachers across the southern and central regions are dependent on incentives paid through the support of education cluster partners.

Results indicate that in Lower and Middle Juba as well as Bay regions, up to 50 per cent of teachers may not return to the classroom when schools reopen.

The findings indicate that school feeding, provision of learning materials and teacher incentives and additional learning spaces are the top priorities in order to ensure that children can access learning opportunities, many for the first time.

“Education is a critical component of any emergency response,” said Rozanne Chorlton, UNICEF Somalia Representative. “Schools can provide a place for children to come to learn, as well as access health care and other vital services. Providing learning opportunities in safe environments is critical to a child’s survival and development and for the longer term stability and growth of the country.”

While Education Cluster partners are scaling-up their emergency education activities to meet the needs identified in the assessment, over $20 million will be needed to carry out the plans. Funding received to date is inadequate, while funding gaps in the education sector have reached their highest levels in the last four years.

Support is urgently needed to establish temporary learning spaces in internally displaced camps, support additional classroom space to accommodate new learners in host communities where people have migrated, provide water and sanitation facilities, provide school kits of essential education and recreational material.

This support is aimed at helping 435,000 children, provide incentives to 5,750 teachers and strengthen the Community Education Committee’s involvement in schools. Plans are also underway to provide food vouchers through schools which will benefit learners and their families and provide an incentive for children to stay in school, or to enroll for the first time in their lives.

“After decades of neglect and lack of funding, the educational opportunities for school-aged children in Somalia are already dire, so it is imperative that we do everything we can to make sure the situation does not get worse,” said Chorlton.“The assessment findings also reinforced the message from communities on the ground that education is a priority for their children.”

About the The rapid assessment
The rapid assessment conducted by the Education Cluster, which is co-led by UNICEF and Save the Children, was carried out by 14 NGOs and their partners on the ground, examining conditions at 589 learning centres including community schools, schools for the internal displaced and private schools. One cluster partner led the assessment in each region with data compiled based on interviews with school principals, Community Education Committees - made up of elders, parents and teachers - and grassroots organizations.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org