Dennis Osadebe
BBCTareq, 10, from Gaza, and Safaa, 14, from Sudan reside about 2,000km aside. They have got by no means met, however they proportion a harsh truth – conflict has stolen their schooling.
“When I saw my school in ruins, a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I long for it to return to what it once was,” Tareq tells the BBC from Gaza.
“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,” he provides.
In Sudan, Safaa goals of changing into a middle surgeon. “I’m still holding on to hope,” she says, however she has annoying recollections of the rustic’s civil conflict.
“Bodies were scattered everywhere, which deeply moved me and made me want to save lives instead of seeing them being lost.”
Tareq and Safaa are a few of the 30 million kids who, in line with the United International locations kids’s company Unicef, are out of college within the Heart East and North Africa. It estimates that greater than part – 16.5 million – are in Sudan abandoned.
In reaction, the BBC Global Provider has introduced an Arabic version of its award-winning tutorial programme Dars – or Lesson.
Within the era yr in Gaza, “over 600,000 children – that’s all the school-aged children in Gaza – didn’t get education”, says Saleem Oweis, a spokesperson for Unicef.
“We’re seeing a pattern of how conflicts, insecurity and crises are inflicting real harm on children’s education and learning,” he provides.
In Sudan, just about two years next a civil conflict erupted between the military and the paramilitary Speedy Assistance Forces, tens of millions of youngsters reside in refugee camps the place schooling is handiest to be had via native tasks.
In an interview with the BBC, Sudan’s schooling minister, Ahmed Khalifa, highlights the dimensions of demolition.
“No state was spared,” he says. “Sudan has approximately 15,000 public schools. Between 60% and 70% of these schools have been completely damaged, losing their foundations, infrastructure and books.
“Even in more secure states, colleges have suffered injury because of systematic demolition by means of militias.”
Dars was first launched in 2023 for children in Afghanistan, including girls barred from secondary school, with the United Nations describing it as a “finding out lifeline” for children unable to attend classes.
Designed for children between the ages of 11 and 16, Dars Arabic has weekly lessons on a range of subjects including maths, technology, climate and mental health.
It also features the stories of children, such as Tareq and Safaa, who despite war and other obstacles, are still determined to learn.
The first episode aired on Sunday 9 February, on BBC News Arabic TV. New episodes are broadcast weekly on Sundays at 05:30 GMT (07:30 EET), with repeats at 10:05 GMT (12:05 EET) and throughout the week.
The programme may be to be had on virtual platforms, together with BBC Information Arabic YouTube, in addition to lifeline radio services and products in Gaza and Syria.
