Safaa, a 14-year-old girl from Sudan, dreams of becoming a heart surgeon. Her inspiration stems from witnessing the aftermath of violence, where "bodies were scattered everywhere," motivating her to save lives instead of seeing them lost. However, like millions of children in conflict zones, Safaa's educational journey faces significant hurdles. In Sudan alone, approximately 16.5 million people are internally displaced, with millions of children living in refugee camps where access to education is severely limited.
To address these challenges, the BBC has introduced "Dars," an educational programme designed as a "learning lifeline" for children unable to attend school. Launched in 2023 initially for Afghan children, "Dars" now extends its reach to Arabic-speaking regions. The first episode of "Dars Arabic" aired on BBC News Arabic TV on February 9, 2023. It caters to children aged 11-16, covering subjects such as maths, technology, and climate. New episodes are broadcast weekly on Sundays at 05:30 GMT and are accessible on digital platforms including BBC News Arabic YouTube and BBC World Service.
Education in Sudan is in dire straits, with around 15,000 public schools suffering from extensive damage. An estimated 60% to 70% of these schools have been completely ruined. "No state was spared," remarked Ahmed Khalifa, Sudan's education minister. This devastation leaves millions of Sudanese children without adequate educational opportunities.
The situation is equally dire in Gaza. Over 600,000 school-aged children have been deprived of education in the past year alone. Saleem Oweis, a spokesperson for Unicef, highlighted the severity of the crisis:
"Over 600,000 children – that's all the school-aged children in Gaza – didn't get education."
Lifeline radio services now extend to Gaza and Syria, providing much-needed educational content amidst ongoing conflicts. Tareq, a 10-year-old from Gaza, shared his emotional experience:
"When I saw my school in ruins, a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I long for it to return to what it once was."
Despite these challenges, Tareq remains determined:
"Despite everything, I haven't stopped learning. I study at home, making sure not to waste a moment so when I do go back to school, I will be ready."
The United Nations estimates that 30 million children are out of school across the Middle East and North Africa due to conflicts and crises, a pattern echoed by Saleem Oweis:
"We're seeing a pattern of how conflicts, insecurity and crises are inflicting real harm on children's education and learning."
