In response to the increasing dangers faced by educational institutions worldwide, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has unveiled a pivotal $500,000 grant aimed at bolstering the defense of education against attacks. This announcement, made on March 19, 2024, underscores ECW’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding educational access for the 224 million children affected by crises globally.
Amid escalating conflicts and the alarming rise in attacks on educational facilities, students, and educators, ECW’s commitment shines a light on the urgent need for protective measures in the educational sector. The grant is bestowed upon the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), enhancing their capabilities to formulate and implement robust global and regional policies that shield schools from harm.
In 2022, GCPEA recorded over 3,000 assaults on educational entities, marking a disturbing 17% surge from the year before. This trend, sadly, is expected to persist, with regions such as Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan facing increasing turmoil.
Yasmine Sherif, the Executive Director of ECW, highlighted the grant’s significance, stating, “Schools, children and teachers around the world continue to face brutal attacks. This is a gross violation of International Humanitarian Law and constitutes one of the grave violations against children in armed conflict. Children, schools and teachers must be protected. Education Cannot Wait will expand our partnership with the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack as we accelerate our work to ensure life-saving access to safe, quality education for crisis-impacted girls and boys across the globe.”
GCPEA, a key player in advocating for the safety of education in conflict zones, will leverage this grant to advance their research and advocacy efforts, particularly focusing on implementing the Safe Schools Declaration. This initiative is vital for understanding and mitigating the impact of educational attacks, especially on marginalized groups.
Lisa Chung Bender, Executive Director of GCPEA, emphasized the critical nature of their work, saying, “Safety is a mandatory prerequisite for education and schools should be the safest spaces for children. With the support of ECW’s Acceleration Facility, GCPEA will be able to continue to provide the rigorous research needed to understand the scope, scale, and severity of attacks on education.”
This collaboration between ECW and GCPEA aims to close significant gaps in the sector, touching on coordination, the effects of the climate crisis, and inclusion issues, thereby ensuring a safer learning environment for children worldwide.
The initiative is part of ECW’s broader strategy to mobilize $1.5 billion over the next three years, reaching out to 20 million children and adolescents affected by crises, thus affirming every child’s right to safe and quality education amidst turmoil.
