Education and Child Protection

Education and child protection is one of CMD’s main thematic areas and play a critical role in protecting children and promoting their well-being. Education is a global fundamental human right and is essential for children's development, both intellectually and socially. Education helps children acquire knowledge and skills, develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and build self-esteem and confidence. At CMD, child protection is a key ingredient to prevent and respond to child abuse, neglect, and exploitation; provide safe and supportive environments for children, to identify and respond to cases of abuse or neglect, and to support children who have experienced trauma or other forms of harm.

 

Education and child protection are fundamental human right and one of the key principles underpinning the Education 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals number 4. There is an increasing research on the ways education can exacerbate conflict and contribute to peace. While school enrolment has increased in recent years, there is wide disparity in education enrolment and attainment across states and counties, correlating with occurrence of conflict events. Children in rural areas have less access to schools due in part to long travel distances which is exacerbated by poor infrastructure. Girls face greater challenges, with approximately 75% per cent of girls unenrolled in primary school, and greater likelihood of dropping out than boys. Harmful cultural norms mean that poor families often prioritize the education of boys. School curriculum and teachers can challenge perceptions of gender, which can influence attitudes towards schooling.

Since 2013, children in South Sudan have been affected by grave violations. Boys and girls are severely affected by conflict and distress due to violence, recruitment by armed forces and armed groups, displacement, famine, family separation and lack of access to education, nutrition and healthcare due to attacks on schools and hospitals / health facilities. The security situation is gradually improving and there is cautious optimism following the 2018 signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Nevertheless, the Child Protection Sub-Cluster in its analysis of child protection needs considers that children and young people, girls as well as boys (under 18) are still at great risk of violence in South Sudan.

Child protection priority areas of focus are psychosocial and mental health support, family tracing and reunification and case management; the latter also considering boys and girls associated with involved in armed groups. As an integrated approach, child protection actors are also focusing on addressing the holistic needs of children affected by recurrent conflict and famine specifically child-headed households who are at great risk of food insecurity as well as protection, education and health issues. Based on the above, CMD will focus on the following goal and strategies: