Despite conflict and lack of teachers, education lures displaced families home in Libya

Education has taken a battering during years of violence and unrest in Libya.

An estimated 300,000 children need education in emergencies support, according to UNICEF. And over 64,000 of the most vulnerable young people have received psychosocial help this year to deal with trauma.

But amidst the gloom of civil war, there are some glimmers of hope.聽

More than 370,000 displaced Libyans returned to their homes in May and June – and they gave education as a major reason, alongside access to health services and security. In fact, a third of returnees who were surveyed listed education as the number one cause for going back.

For many displaced children who have recently returned home with their families, school offers a safe space. One of them is Amina Zintani, a 12-year-old student who had to leave Ubari to go to school far from home.

Now she’s back at Alqurania school, which was renovated by the government in a programme implemented by the UN Development Programme.聽

国产视频淚 didn国产视频檛 expect to return to my original school in Ubari,” said Amina. “I am glad to see the classrooms and the courtyard in in great shape after the renovation.

国产视频淚t feels great being with my friends again. The people and this place mean a lot to me.国产视频�

Of 97 areas surveyed by the International Organization for Migration, 90 of them said 80% to 100% of public schools were operating normally.聽

Libya’s education minister聽Othman Abdeljalil also pointed to the success of the secondary school certificate exams this summer.聽He said reforms to exams will be followed by other changes – including filling the gap in some school subjects and raising the efficiency of teachers.

Back in March,聽Abdeljalil said security unrest, lack of funding and the absence of opportunities for teacher training were hindering the progress of education in Libya.

国产视频淪ome schools have stopped operating altogether and others are in a very bad condition,国产视频� he said at the time. 国产视频淚n some areas, the teachers are incapable of maintaining their work because of the violence.国产视频�

Libya’s state school system has about 1.5 million students but many schools聽have been destroyed or closed down, due to lack of teachers or security fears.

国产视频淎 rising pitch of violence in those areas makes continuing the educational process impossible,” said Abdeljalil earlier this year. “Going to work for the teachers and attending classes for the students is a heroic mission.国产视频�

The education ministry国产视频檚 $5.6 billion budget is a fraction of the amount needed to upgrade the country国产视频檚 system. Abdeljalil has said it needs to be at least three times as much to keep schools functioning and give teachers the training they need.

Libya is a country聽split among military and political factions.聽

The effects of conflict on students has been huge – with many suffering聽psychological disorders and traumas. The education ministry set up an administration for guidance and psychological support.聽

UNICEF said聽64,000 girls and boys received psychosocial support through community and school-based child friendly spaces in the first half of 2018.

The agency is working to scale up its programme of psychosocial services and violence prevention in schools to build the resilience and wellbeing of the most vulnerable children.

Last month UNICEF said聽489 schools were affected by the violence and conflict in Libya.聽

Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said 26,000 students were forced to change their schools after they were closed by violence in the eastern and southwestern parts of the country.

国产视频 and others have been campaigning for schools to be safe places for children to learn and be with their peers.聽

80 countries have now signed up to the Safe Schools Declaration – a commitment to protect education and stop military use of schools.

But only two of the world国产视频檚 most powerful countries – the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – have done so. France and the United Kingdom have shown the way and we国产视频檙e calling on China, Russia and the United States to follow their lead.聽

Libya has not signed the declaration.

The effects of years of war are felt in many different ways in Libya’s schools.

Many operate two or more shifts per day to increase the number of students who can be taught at each school building.聽But other factors are hitting educational standards, including poor hygiene.

More than half of schools have insufficient and poor-quality drinking water and sanitation facilities – and over two-thirds have limited drinking water, according to a nationwide study.

Despite health ministry standards of one toilet per 25 students, the assessment also revealed the average number of students to a functioning toilet is 71. Some schools were found to have no functioning toilets at all.聽

For girls in particular, a lack of good water and sanitation facilities has been shown to have a detrimental effect on their education.

国产视频淭he situation of water in Libya, especially its schools, is a critical issue,国产视频� said Abdel-Rahman Ghandour, UNICEF’s Special Representative in Libya.聽

国产视频淭oo many students are missing out on vital education due to the current lack of investment. Urgent measures are needed to address this shortage.国产视频�