The Ebola outbreak has ravaged West Africa leaving thousands dead,
and it has also halted education causing a potential crisis for the future.
Find out how you can help.
Ebola’s
Impact On Child Education In Africa
As the
Ebola crisis in West Africa deepens, with cases being recorded in Europe and
further afield, it’s becoming apparent that the impact of the current outbreak
is causing profound issues across the stricken countries.
The strain
put on inadequate health care systems has seen over 8,000 people die and
communities crumble. With families losing parents to the disease, children are
left vulnerable to poverty a problem compounded by the closure of schools across
the region.
To try and
contain the spread of the disease governments in Liberia, Sierra Leone and
Guinea closed down schools, colleges and other educational centres. However
this means that children are missing out on vital education, and as a result facing
uncertain futures without the skills to improve their situation.
Ebola
In Liberia
It’s been
more than five months since schools were closed in Liberia. Children are playing
in the streets, working and, in too many instances, begging in place of
attending school. The country has a high illiteracy rate and a school system
that is both limited and fragile, with too few trained teachers.
Although
efforts have been made to set up community learning centres and home schooling
the simple fact is that there are inadequate resources for this to be effective,
with many parents being illiterate and unable to home school even if they have
the time. Also people are still afraid of congregating for fear of contracting
Ebola.
