Background
The education available to Syria’s children has changed dramatically compared to how it was prior to the war. Existing schools in Syria now face problems such as overcrowding, insufficient supplies, and sanitation problems. More than 1.2 million children from Syria have fled to foreign countries. Even though many are fleeing to Germany, the situation has not improved. Syrian refugees face even more problems including an unfamiliar language, differences in language of instruction, insufficient catch-up programs, and high transportation costs. Harassment and discrimination also act as barriers for Syrian refugee children who are seeking education. As a result of this growing crisis, many students are put at risk of not being able to receive a sustainable education.
It has been estimated that over the course of this year, Germany will take in up to 800,000 refugees, with many of the refugees having children who will need to be educated. It is estimated that children will make up a third of the number of refugees entering Germany, all of which will need to receive some sort of education. The Standing Conference predicts that there will be 325,000 extra students across Germany in the next year. German schools find themselves having to adjust to the crisis and are figuring out ways to make education more readily available. Right now, there are some teachers who have the capability to teach non-German students, but it is not enough to do a sufficient job. The issue, besides not having enough teachers available, is the lack of funds that are given to get and hire qualified teachers. It has been estimated by the German government that it would cost up to 3.3 billion Euros to redesign an education plan to help with the refugee crisis. Why Should We Care?
Education has the ability to make a lasting difference to the Syrian children’s lives. Education can stabilize communities, spur growth, and provide hope and purpose for the refugees. With the knowledge and skills acquired from education, these children will be able to assist in peace building in the future. Global action must be taken in order to give Syrian children the fundamental right of quality education. The first action to be taken should be to create a long-term plan for the education of displaced children. Regional governments and international partners must come up with a plan to meet the education needs of Syrian refugees. Host governments must have support in developing policies which will reflect the presence of Syrian children as a reality. This plan should be based upon the idea of local and refugee children learning together and include certification of schooling for refugee children.
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