The writer is an
economist, anchor,
analyst and the
President of All
Pakistan Private
Schools’ Federation
president@Pakistan
privateschools.com
The International Day to Protect Education from Attack is observed on September 9. The United Nations General Assembly established this day to raise awareness about the plight of millions of children living in countries affected by conflict. The International Day to Protect Education from Attack is a global observance instituted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2020, with a unanimous accord. This day sheds light on the egregious violations of education during armed conflict, including assaults on students, teachers, and educational institutions. It also highlights the illicit use of schools for military purposes and underscores the imperative need to safeguard the right to education.
Furthermore, this day amplifies efforts to ensure the continuity of education amidst conflict, as enshrined in the Safe Schools Declaration, thereby upholding the inviolable right to learn and teach in safety. In accordance with international humanitarian law and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. This observance is grounded in various legal frameworks and instruments, including The Safe Schools Declaration (2015); The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989); The Geneva Conventions (1949); The Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907); and The UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960). These instruments emphasize the importance of protecting education from attack and ensuring the continuation of learning in safe and secure environments, even in the midst of conflict. By observing this day, the international community reaffirms its commitment to upholding the right to education and promoting peace, justice, and human rights for all. We observe the International Day to Protect Education from Attacks, but, indeed UN and other International organisations bitterly failed to implement their own charters, accords, declarations and conventions to Protect Education from Attacks. Attacks on schools, students, and teachers have become all too common, destroying not only infrastructure but also the hopes and dreams of entire communities. Despite the existence of various UN charters, accords, declarations, and conventions aimed at protecting education from attacks, the international community has fallen short in implementing these agreements. The persistent attacks on education are a stark reminder of this failure. The UN and other international organizations must take responsibility for ensuring the protection of education from attacks. Moreover, governments, civil society organizations, and individuals must work together to: Prioritize education in conflict zones and crisis situations; and support education programs and initiatives that promote peace, tolerance, and understanding.
The UN Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict for the year 2023 presents a harrowing account of the violence endured by children in conflict zones. Globally, 128 million students are affected by conflict, with 40% of out-of-school children living in conflict-affected areas. (UNICEF). As we reflect on this critical issue, we must recognize the long-term consequences of attacks on education. The loss of a single generation’s education can have far-reaching and devastating effects on entire societies, perpetuating cycles of poverty, inequality, and violence. Behind these numbers are stories of resilience, courage, and determination. Students and teachers risk their lives to pursue knowledge, often in the face of unimaginable danger. Communities that come together to rebuild and restore their schools, even in the aftermath of conflict. In 2023, 32,990 grave violations were verified against 22,557 children. The number of children killed in 2023 is equivalent to almost 15 children killed every day. Over 14,500 reports of attacks on education or military use of educational facilities were recorded worldwide between 2017 and 2022. More than 28,000 students, teachers, and academics were injured, killed, or harmed in such attacks carried out in situations of armed conflict or insecurity. The statistics are staggering. In 2022 alone, over 9,400 attacks on education were reported, resulting in the deaths of at least 4,400 students and teachers. (UNESCO). Millions more were displaced, denied access to learning, and left vulnerable to exploitation. In Pakistan alone, over 22,000 schools have been destroyed or damaged since 2007, affecting 6.5 million children’s education. (UNESCO). There were over 6,000 attacks on education in 2022 and 2023, a nearly 20% increase compared to the previous two years. These attacks resulted in over 10,000 students, teachers, and academics being harmed, injured, or killed. On the other side, the protection of education and schools from attack in the Gaza war is a pressing concern. According to the United Nations, Gaza is facing the worst food crisis in history, and 90 per cent of children are forced to starve. The Gaza crisis has resulted in the closure of all schools, affecting 625,000 students. As of April, more than 5,479 students and 261 teachers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7. A staggering 87.7% of all school buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. The Gaza war has had a devastating impact on education, with 267 schools damaged or destroyed (UNESCO); 46 schools used as shelters for displaced persons (UNESCO); 55% of schools in Gaza reporting damage to infrastructure or furniture (Save the Children); 1 in 3 schools in Gaza lacking access to electricity (Save the Children); and 1 in 2 schools in Gaza lacking access to clean water (Save the Children). The economic impact of attacks on education is staggering, with an estimated $1.4 trillion lost in GDP due to conflict and violence. (World Bank). Girls are disproportionately affected, with 1 in 3 girls in conflict-affected countries out of school, compared to 1 in 5 boys. (UNICEF). Attacks on education have long-term consequences, including increased poverty, inequality, and violence. (UNESCO). There’s a need to develop a comprehensive policy for protecting education from attack and military use and engage all concerned ministry staff at central and local levels in implementing this strategy. Include short-term measures for prevention and response, as well as adopting conflict-sensitive education policies and programs that help reduce the risk of future conflict. In several countries school and community leaders have negotiated agreements with parties to armed conflict—including government forces and non-state armed groups—not to attack schools or use them for military or political purposes. Measures have included: Armed and unarmed guards, protection committees, physical infrastructure, protective presence and accompaniment, teachers and student housing, community education and mobilization, as well as measures to protect against gender-based violence. Negotiations are also another strategy to protect education. Early warning and alert systems may also help the schools. Alternative delivery of education
to avoid attacks or the threat of violence, schools have implemented a number of measures to provide alternative delivery of education. These measures have been initiated at the school- level, usually in collaboration with community members, NGOs, and sometimes INGOs and Ministries, depending on the conflict context and motivation for attacks. Modifications in time, place, and mode of education delivery have also been devised when normal school sites have been damaged, occupied, or targeted. Alternative delivery of education can better ensure continuity in access to learning opportunities and can provide structure, routine, and support to students and teachers, which can also bring psychosocial benefits. Measures have included: community-based schools, schedule changes, distance learning, and relocating places of delivery of education. UNICEF defines psychosocial support as those program components, which assist children, families, and communities to cope with crisis and to reinforce or regain healthy psychosocial development and resilience in the face of challenging circumstances. Components of psychosocial support at the school level have included: temporary educational activities; child-friendly learning environments; referral systems; teacher and caregiver training; services for victims of gender-based violence; codes of conduct; and other measures to assist teachers.
Globally, 128 million students are affected by conflict, with 40% of out-of-school children living in conflict-affected areas. There were over 6,000 attacks on education in 2022 and 2023, a nearly 20% increase compared to the previous two years. In 2023, 32,990 grave violations were verified against 22,557 children. The number of children killed in 2023 is equivalent to almost 15 children killed every day. More than 28,000 students, teachers, and academics were injured, killed, or harmed in the last 5-year in such attacks..
Schools in a number of countries have chosen to implement comprehensive school-based safety and security plans, often with the support of Ministries, UN agencies, or INGOs. These plans require strong leadership from principals and school management or protection committees, with active community and parent participation. The plans have incorporated an array of measures, including protection, mitigation, and response actions. Many of the six other measures described in this briefing paper can be incorporated into a strategic, comprehensive approach to safety and security planning. Schools and universities should be safe places of learning. However, children’s and young people’s rights to education and protection are violated in most countries experiencing conflict or insecurity. Students and education personnel have been threatened, killed, injured, tortured, recruited, and used by armed forces and armed groups, while in school or en route to and from school. Education actors considering implementing school-based protection measures should review all of the measures to assess the applicability to their own context, the risks involved, and the potential benefits. Measures must be adapted to meet the context-specific needs of each country or locale, and a conflict-sensitive approach to development and implementation must be adopted to ensure that measures do no harm. Support schools in developing safety and security plans, and provide financial support, preferably with a multi-year commitment. Advocate for funding of safety and security plans, including rehabilitation of schools damaged by attacks or military use, with concerned ministries and donors. Support the development of school-based safety and security plans, and ensure sustained support for school-based protection measures. Support innovative measures including technology that can facilitate early warning or distance learning. Advocate with the government to budget for and implement safe school measures, including conflict-sensitive planning and curriculum to reduce the risk of future conflict, promote social cohesion, and strengthen community and individual resilience. One way in which governments can work to protect schooling is by endorsing and implementing the Safe Schools Declaration, which includes commitments to address systemic education issues, including by introducing conflict-sensitive education policies, taking action to support the continuation of education during armed conflict, and re-establishing educational facilities following attack or military use. Finally, by joining the Declaration, states are endorsing the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Attack and Military Use during Armed Conflict, which will better ensure the safety of students and teachers and safeguard the right to education in conflict. Let us stand in solidarity with students, teachers, and communities worldwide who are fighting for their right to learn and teach in safety. So what can we do? First and foremost, we must acknowledge the gravity of this crisis and commit to protecting education from attack. Governments, international organizations, and civil society must work together to: Strengthen legislation and policies safeguarding education, such as the Safe Schools Declaration; Support communities in rebuilding and restoring schools, like the UN’s Education Cannot Wait initiative; Provide psychosocial support to students and teachers affected by violence, through programs like UNICEF’s psychosocial support toolkit; and Promote inclusive and equitable education for all, including girls and marginalized communities. There is an urgent need for an immediate and definitive ceasefire. The siege on Gaza must end, and all crossings should be reopened to allow goods in accordance with International Humanitarian Law obligations. The Government of Israel should immediately end unlawful attacks on education and endorse and fully implement the Safe Schools Declaration. All parties must respect the protected status of schools and not use schools as battlegrounds. The international community should strongly condemn all attacks on schools and demand that all parties to the conflict respect International Humanitarian Law, commit no further grave violations against children, and ensure accountability for those committed to date. The international community must prioritize urgent inclusive Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and education in emergencies whenever safe and unimpeded humanitarian access is a reality. We must act now for a permanent and definitive ceasefire to keep the hope alive for the children in Gaza. Together, we can create a world where education is protected, and the future is secured for generations to come. We must call on all countries to invest in education and spare no effort to safeguard education and places of learning, protect students and teachers alike, and hold accountable perpetrators of attacks on places of learning; and urge all countries to fully endorse and implement the Safe Schools Declaration, support the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, and stand with all efforts to ensure that children and young people can continue their learning — both in times of crisis and after the fighting stops. Let us use this International Day to Protect Education from Attack as a call to action to strengthen our collective efforts to safeguard education and ensure that learning remains a safe and protected space for all.