Tag Archives: Drought

Drought Brings Dry Spells to Classrooms

 

A young boy's toes go unprotected as he carries river water back to his classroom in East Africa. Tony Karumba/AFP - Getty Images

As an elementary school student (okay, and as a high school student too), snow days were among the happiest days of the year.  I never thought twice about feeling anything other then joyful when school was cancelled because of weather. But for students in Ethiopia, climate has presented a huge educational obstacle to overcome. In January, UNICEF reported that over 450,000 young children in Ethiopia have seen their schooling opportunities threatened by natural disasters and conflict. It seems that droughts leave more than just the land barren; classrooms are taking a hit too. Torn between drought, flooding and windstorms, some regions in Ethiopia suffered a 50 percent dropout rate in just one month this summer. Unfortunately, these dropout rates have become the norm.

Each day that passes of a child not attending school increases the likelihood that the child will not return. To mitigate the devestation, several steps are being taken to get kids back in school before it’s too late. An article published by “IRIN” highlighted the effectiveness of school feeding programs and flexible calendar scheduling. The World Food Programme in partnership with other organizations is spearheading a “food for education” program. Serving a meal or snack during the school day has proven to be a great incentive for parents to send their children to school. Plus, the extra nourishment helps the young students focus on their studies, rather than on their rumbling stomach. A more flexible school calendar allows the children of pastoralists or nomadic populations to migrate when drought hits without the consequence of missing school. The school calendar would be designed so that class didn’t meet during the driest seasons.

Currently, the WFP is still seeking funds to provide assistance to children in Ethiopia in need of food and educational aid. To learn more about how drought can impact a child’s schooling, click here to watch a UNICEF video from 2007 when the same desperate circumstances arose in Ethiopia.

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Top Headlines from the Horn of Africa, Sudan, and the Middle East

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Crisis in the Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is facing the worst drought to hit the region in sixty years.  Aid is desperately needed, as millions are facing extreme hunger.  Children are among the most vulnerable to the food crisis.  To learn more about the crisis and how you can help, catch up on the latest developments here.

One Year Later – Progress in Pakistan
Last week, the world marked the one-year anniversary of the devastating flood in Pakistan.  As one year has passed since the disaster, thousands reflected on the progress that has been made.   Unfortunately, schools suffered massive destruction and 7 million children are still out of school.  To read more about how education has been impacted by the flood, follow this link.

Man Up!
An urgent call to action from Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, this Huffington Post piece encourages readers to promote the rights of young girls.  This comprehensive overview of the health crises that impact young women is addressed to men, but is a must-read for all.  Check it out here.

Education Remains a Right Only for Privileged Afghans
Growing up as a young girl in Afghanistan, Noorjahan Akbar was held back from attending school.  In this article, she reflects on her childhood and why millions of other female students suffer the same injustice. This piece sheds light on the factors that keep those in poverty, especially girls, out of school.

Mobile Schools Educate Nomad Students in Sudan
In Sudan, 8 percent of the population is made up of nomads, a population that roams across the land and has traditionally been against sending children to school—especially  girls. In 2002, UNICEF started a mobile school program in the White Nile State to educate children of nomadic families. This summer, 110 children from six different mobile schools have become the first in their nomadic community to finish primary schooling through the mobile education program. Read more here.

Additional reporting by Arianna Davis.

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