Syrian conflict depriving 2 mn children of education: Unicef

Geneva, Sep 15 (IANS/EFE) Unicef warned on Tuesday that more than two million children in Syria cannot go to school this year, and 400,000 others were at risk of dropping out due to the war engulfing the country.

"There are 5,000 schools across the country that cannot be used because they have been destroyed, damaged, converted into shelters for displaced families or have become bases for armed forces and groups," Unicef said in a statement.

"Many parents worry about sending their children to school because of the dangers on the road to or at school itself," the statement noted, adding that "in 2014 alone, at least 60 schools were attacked, sometimes deliberately".

Moreover, Syria's teachers have paid a heavy price, since over 25 percent of the teaching workforce have left their posts.

However, Syrian children are very eager to learn.

Hanaa Singer, Unicef representative in Syria, said that "even under the worst circumstances Syrian children keep asking to learn and go back to school because they are yearning for a better future and a chance to be influential".

"We must all invest in Syria's children as they are the future of Syria and they will help rebuild their country when peace returns," Singer added.

--IANS/EFE

pm/