International Day of Education 2019
News
24 January 2019
Students in class at Suuban Primary school. Photo Credit World Vision Ireland
The UN General Assembly proclaimed the 24th January as “International Day of Education” in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.
Education is a basic human right and has the potential to break the cycle of poverty, especially for women and girls. Recent decades have seen some increases in the enrolment rates of children, but despite progress, 63 million children of primary school age remain out of school.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, one in every three children, adolescents and youth are out of school - with girls more likely to be excluded than boys. For every 100 boys of primary age out of school, there are 123 girls denied the right to education.
A key priority of Irish Aid is to ensure that all children, especially girls and children affected by conflict and protracted crises, have the opportunity to get a good quality education and the chance of a better future.
Irish Aid supports non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as World Vision Ireland, to provide humanitarian assistance in countries experiencing protracted crises. World Vision Ireland is a child-focused overseas aid agency who partners with communities to support them to become independent and resilient so that they can provide the best possible future for their children.
In Somalia, local community member Nasar Adan Farah saw the need for education in his community. Nasar worked hard to create a place to deliver formal education to children in his community. Under a tree, Nasar founded Subaan primary school in the Ely district of Puntland, Somalia.
Since 2008, Nasar, has played a key role in expanding and developing the school to provide formal education for almost 200 children. Thanks to the work of World Vision Ireland through support of Irish Aid, the students have learning materials, latrines for girls and boys and the eight teachers now receive a salary. The teachers also received refresher training to increase their understanding of different teaching methods and to improve their ability to plan lessons and prepare students for examinations.
Reflecting on the development and expansion of the school, Nasar said: “more children will now be enrolled in school and get an opportunity to learn and be better educated leaders of tomorrow”.
Irish Aid is committed in supporting NGO partners like World Vision Ireland to ensure that boys and girls complete free, equitable and quality primary education, goal 4 of the sustainable development goals.
