Education in Mali Threatened by the Conflict in the North and the Nutrition and Food Crisis
In Mali, following the conflict in the North, the Ministry of Education has identified 6,895 in-school displaced students. According to the estimations from the Education Cluster, 10,000 students (in school and dropped-out after displacement) are currently displaced in South Mali. It is estimated by the Education Cluster that by the end of 2012 there will be 25,000 displaced students in the South of Mali. Estimations show that amongst the 300,000 students in the North, only 20% are displaced to the South or are refugees in the neighboring countries. The 80% who remain in the North currently have no access to education - leaving children at risk of recruitment into armed groups. Furthermore, at national level, children are also affected by the food and nutrition crisis. According to a joint assessment held by the Education Cluster and the Child Protection Sub-cluster, in 50% of the surveyed villages, there is a trend of school drop-outs, mainly because of the food insecurity. Until the end of the year, the Education Cluster and its partners are focusing on a back-to-school campaign targeting conflict-affected children: displaced children in the South and children who remain in the North.