A report released today by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) reveals a sharp increase in attacks on schools and education professionals in Burkina Faso during 2022 and 2023. The report documents over 270 incidents, up from 148 attacks in 2020 and 2021. The majority of these attacks, including arson, were attributed to armed groups.

The ongoing conflict between the Burkina Faso armed forces and Islamist groups like Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has severely impacted the education sector. The fighting has led to the destruction and closure of schools, forced the displacement of over two million people, and resulted in a significant number of civilian deaths. As of October 2023, around one million children are out of school, with more than 6,100 schools closed by spring 2023, accounting for nearly half of all closed schools in Central and West Africa.

GCPEA also reported incidents where schools were repurposed for military use, further disrupting education and increasing risks to students. Burkina Faso endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration in 2017, which aims to protect educational institutions from conflict-related attacks. The report calls for all conflict parties to halt attacks on schools and adhere to this declaration to ensure the safety and rights of students and educators.

To Read The Full Article: Human Right’s Watch