The Indonesia Post – The UN Refugee Agency says the coronavirus threatens progress made in improving education for child refugees.
A just-published report based on data from 12 countries hosting more than half the world’s refugee children, found that primary education enrolment increased by two percent in 2019.
But while gross enrolment was 77 percent at the primary level, it fell to only 31 percent in secondary, and just three percent in higher education.
The UNHCR noted girls had less access to education than boys, and that the coronavirus threatened to undo the gains that had been made.
“Before the pandemic, a refugee child was twice as likely to be out of school as a non-refugee child,” the agency said in a statement. This is set to worsen – many may not have opportunities to resume their studies due to school closures, difficulties affording fees, uniforms or books, lack of access to technologies or because they are being required to work to support their families.” (jekk/bbs)
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