The outbreak of the war in Syria has forced many Syrian children to leave their country and flee to neighboring nations. Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan are today among the states with the highest number of Syrian refugee children in their territories. However, despite the efforts made to implement measures to ensure and secure children’s right to education, difficulties remain in making such a right effective.
According to the UNHCR, Turkey is currently hosting in its public schools and temporary education centers more than 1 million Syrian children; Lebanon has welcomed about 400,000 Syrian kids in its educational facilities; Jordan has provided over 200,000 Syrian students with access to double-shift schools, allowing them to attend classes in the morning or the afternoon. The UNHCR also reports that many Syrian children are educated in the refugee camps spread in these countries, lacking electricity, heating, and running water.
Although the hosting countries undertook to create a friendly and inclusive schooling environment, about 40% of Syrian refugee children still remain unschooled. Such a percentage depends not only on the practical barriers limiting access to education but also on the teaching techniques used. Classes are often held in languages unknown to Syrian pupils, preventing them from fully understanding the teachings. Moreover, teachers do not adapt the domestic study programs to the Syrian curricula, setting aside Syrian children’s cultural background and needs. In addition, due to the poverty conditions in which they live, Syrian refugee children can rarely afford the costs of school materials or school transportation.
All these factors create obstacles hard to overcome. While states’ attempts to support Syrian refugee children must be seen positively, only by promoting accelerated and flexible education programs that take into account refugees’ diverse necessities Syrian children will have a brighter future.
By Simone M. Russo