In September, school starts again in many countries around the world. Classrooms and school desks are repopulated with children and teachers, classmates are reunited, and the first lessons slowly begin. However, this is not the case for everyone.

In Chad, women, men, and children have been living in a situation of protracted displacement for years, which has been exacerbated by the conflict in Sudan. This has resulted in a great challenge for the Chad government and national and international organisations in the territory to ensure access to education for all.

JRS is working in collaboration with the National Curriculum Centre (CNC), the National Directorate for Inclusive Education and Emergency Action, and other local partners to meet this large demand. “We are building classrooms and temporary learning spaces in both the new and old camps,” said Valan. “With the aim of leaving no one behind, in addition to preparatory classes for the new children who will be integrated into the Chadian education system, we are also providing accelerated education to those students who have dropped out of school in the past and will be integrated into formal education later,” she continued.

Ensuring that displaced children not only have access to school but also receive a quality education is a priority of JRS’s response to the crisis.  “We have developed and implemented a multidisciplinary approach, which includes training on different educational curricula, inclusive education, psychosocial support, and social cohesion. We try to promote a friendly environment that meets the needs of all children both in the camps and in the host communities,” Valan said.

Despite all efforts, the back-to-school needs are still huge. The lack of infrastructure and pedagogical material, and the shortage of personnel, are just some of the difficulties faced by the Chadian school system. “Confronted  with fewer livelihood opportunities, communities find it extremely difficult to provide education for displaced children on their own. These new arrivals certainly require the mobilisation of more funds and resources to be addressed,” concluded the project coordinator.