Save The Children says 400,000 Afghans will drop out of school this year
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 23 March 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Save The Children says 400,000 Afghans will drop out of school this year, 23 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a6a7a.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 23, 2017
Afghanistan children at school.
An international advocacy group says more than 400,000 children in Afghanistan will likely drop out of school during the current school year because of growing instability and an influx of forced refugee returns from neighboring Pakistan.
U.S.-based Save the Children on March 23 said one-third of all Afghan children – some 3.7 million – are unable to go to school – making them susceptible to recruitment by armed groups, trafficking, child labor, early marriage, and other forms of exploitation.
It said the crisis is made worse by the forced return from Pakistan of more than 610,000 Afghan refugees during 2016 and up to 1 million this year, which threatens to overwhelm educational facilities.
The report, issued on the traditional first day of school in Afghanistan, estimates that 1,100 children a day will drop out of school this year.
"Today should be a happy day in Afghanistan as children go back to class for the first time after a long winter," said Ana Locsin, Save the Children's country director in Afghanistan.
"Instead, it is a day cloaked in tragedy for the millions who can't access education and are struggling to survive," Locsin said.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
