In the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict at the end of 2020 resulted in a significant disruption to education. Approximately 2.4 million school-aged children were denied the right to education for 3 academic years, with 88% of school infrastructures damaged. Child protection risks escalated, exposing children to various harms and trauma.
Following the peace talks, schools in Tigray reopened in May 2023. However, challenges such as poor school conditions, increased number of students with special needs, and reduced parental capacity to support their children’s education continue to pose barriers for children to access education.
According to the Tigray Regional Education Bureau, only 40% of school-aged children have enrolled in school since their reopening. Prolonged absence from school increases children’s vulnerability to various forms of violence, and the disruption in their education may lead to child labour, trapping them in a cycle of poverty. Their mental health deteriorates.
This situation disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, particularly girls living in poor households or displaced communities, putting them at higher risks of exploitation, child marriage, and early pregnancy. Girls, in particular, face heightened risks when out of school. In Tigray, due to the closure of schools for so many years, adolescent female students enrolling often feel unsafe and uncomfortable attending school during their menstrual cycle. School toilets that are not gender-segregated lack doors, locks and privacy further exacerbate the difficulties faced by adolescent girls.
In response to the multifaceted challenges, Plan International, with the support of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations,initiated an integrated Education and Child Protection Emergency Response in Tigray since June 2022. The primary objective is to meet the urgent needs of crisis-affected children, ensuring their access to education and protection services.
Wegahta, a 16-year-old girl from Amdiweyane kebele (village) in Samre woreda in South-East Tigray, faced immense challenges due to the devastating war. Orphaned by the conflict and surviving physical and psychological abuses, Wegahta lived with her elder sister. Some school programmes resumed in October 2022, but Wegahta, like many others, couldn’t continue learning due to hunger, lack of materials, security concerns, and limited access to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services.
Wegahta spoke to PLAN about the challenges she faced during the conflict, highlighting the shortage of school materials (exercise books, pens, pencils, books), damaged classrooms, overcrowded seating, non-functional toilets, and overall discomfort. She said she would always feel uncomfortable and ashamed when using the toilet. These difficulties contributed to her disinterest in attending classes and frequent absences.