Nigeria joins 40 countries pledging to protect schools in conflicts

Almost 40 countries pledged Friday to do more to protect students caught up in conflicts, including Nigeria and Afghanistan both of which have suffered armed attacks on schools in recent years. "Targeted attacks on education are robbing a generation of the chance to realise their potential, with a huge long-term social cost," said Diya Nijhowne, director of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA). She spoke to welcome a declaration by 37 governments on preventing schools and universities from becoming battlegrounds.
The Norwegian government, which hosted a conference in Oslo on the issue, estimates that 28 million children around the world are unable to attend school because of armed conflicts.