Ammons 1

Lillie Ammons

Phillips

AP Language and Composition

4 December 2017

How Education in Niger is Affected by Regional Conflict

The ongoing conflict in the Sahel region of Africa is often talked about in regards to

Nigeria and Mali, but rarely do we hear of the effects this violence has on neighboring regions

like Niger. There has been much recent forced displacement in the Sahel region around the Lake

Chad basin, bordering Niger. The amount of refugees caused by this displacement has put much

stress on the Nigerien government, and as a result, the education system has gotten little to no

attention. This has lead to declining literacy rates and poor success in school attendance. The

conflict in the Sahel has overwhelmed the Nigerien government, which caused them to turn their

attention away from education and left many children living amidst danger, with little resources,

and without access to schooling.

Despite not being at the center of the violence in the Sahel, Niger has been feeling the

impact of conflict in neighboring countries in the form of refugees. Niger has always

experienced inflows of refugees seeking safety, but recent conflicts have caused a drastic

increase in number. A Sahel refugee report by the World Bank says, “While the presence of

refugees is not new in this already fragile and impoverished region, the considerable scale and

complexity of this current crisis represents an unprecedented humanitarian and development

challenge for these host communities.” This overwhelming number of people puts a strain on the

government and provides them with yet another issue on which to focus attention. With already

scarce numbers of food and job opportunities, the United Nations (UN) predicts the population in
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the Sahel region will see an “increase from 90 million to 240 million by 2050” (“12M In

Humanitarian Crisis in Sahel Region, Report Says”). This overwhelming figure is fearful for

countries, such as Niger, who are already struggling to support their own population.

As well as deal with these effects from the conflicts in other parts of the Sahel, Niger

must also face their own conflicts over oil with various extremist groups. Boko Haram is an

increasingly present terrorist group in Niger that threatens many of their people and creates much

conflict. Niger has recently become a “member of the Multinational Joint Task Force against

Boko Haram,” and other anti terrorism forces (Grant). These decisions on behalf of the Nigerien

government will help in their fight against these terrorist groups and are taking a step towards

reducing the violence in the country. Despite this decision helping to reduce danger in Niger, it is

an investment for the government and is expending much of their time and effort. The Nigerien

government is under much strain during this time, but must make conscious decisions about

where to focus their attention in a way that best supports their country. Niger’s overextended

government is placing many burdens on the people of the country, as they feel the impact of the

struggles their country is experiencing.

Many of the impacts from this conflict in Niger are seen in the lives of the families and

children there. Children in the Sahel region are faced with everyday violence and lack of

opportunity for better. In areas where militant forces are constantly present and citizens are in

need of resources, many children will “join militant groups under false promises of education,

work, or money, which reveals their desperation to improve their future and immediate

circumstances” (Bragg and Kwuak). For families living in these circumstances, the constant

struggle for resources can lead them to make dangerous, desperate decisions. While the Nigerien

government has been working more diligently on other pressing issues in the country, they have
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ignored the tragedy that many of their people are slipping away and struggling to survive (“12M

In Humanitarian Crisis in Sahel Region, Report Says”). Niger is experiencing such a drastic

increase in population, they are struggling to adjust and, as a result, are neglecting much of the

population.

Taking in these massive number of refugees is a huge adjustment for Niger, and is

placing a large burden on their already struggling government. There is a large cost that comes

with taking in refugees, and a report done by the World Bank acknowledges that these costs are

putting a huge financial strain on governments. In areas where resources were already slim,

incoming refugees arrive to face a government unprepared to care for this sudden increase in

population. There are, however, humanitarian efforts being made to prepare a long term

approach to improve the living conditions in the host countries.

These efforts include interventions from other countries to help with the process. The UN

is beginning to help refugees find safety in Niger, however, it is challenging for Niger to make

room for them all; so some European countries have offered financial support (Lewis). This

financial support can be beneficial to help provide care to the incoming refugees, and Niger has a

great need for support. Despite help from other countries, the government is still faced with the

struggle of where to focus their attention.

With other rising issues, the Nigerien government has allowed education to take lesser

priority. However, at a time with much conflict, it is necessary to provide a solid education for

youth, and to prepare them to step in as they age and the economy improves (Chambas). One of

the best tactics Niger can enforce to overcome these conflicts is to begin to raise up a stronger

population and to prepare their residents to sustain their nation. However, as Niger continues to

struggle through these conflicts, the level of education is dropping continuously .

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Niger’s education system has taken a serious hit as the conflict in the Sahel region has

increased. A report about the declining standard of education in Niger says due to, “decaying

infrastructure, limited numbers of teachers, and a failing economy, the education system in Niger

is drastically decreasing” (Oladipo). Lack of resources is not the only problem harming the

education system, but also the neighboring violence. Many radical children in the area suffer

from relative deprivation and can quickly fall into trouble supporting militant groups when a

school system is not in place to keep them safe (Bragg and Kwuak). The combination of a lack

of structure and violence facing the area has allowed their standard of education to slip away. An

education system would help build up and promote safety amongst Niger’s young population,

however, it is lacking as a direct result of the conflict in the Sahel region.

The overwhelmed government in Niger has caused the failing education system, despite

some providing alternate reasons. A governor of Niger, Alhaji Abubaker Sani Bello argues, “Our

education system is almost dead. It was not killed by the present administration; we met it that

way” (Oladipo). Truth may be found in the idea that the education system was already failing,

however, the current administration must accept the blame for where the system is now. If the

failing education system is not the responsibility of the current administration, why has it not

improved since they stepped in? Had the government of Niger been able to focus more attention

on the education system before the surrounding conflict in the Sahel had increased, the standard

of education may not have dropped to as low as it is today.

Efforts are being made to improve the education system, and the government of Niger is

now making plans for reconstruction. They have received recent grants from the International

Bank for Reconstruction and Development and have created a sector plan through 2024

(“Education in Niger”). This grant will serve as a paving stone for the improvements in Niger,
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and should be able to help prioritize education in such a needy community. It was also made

known by the permanent secretary in the state ministry of education, Alhaji Yahaya Garba, that

the government recently began new efforts to help renovate and provide basic needs to several

schools (“Niger Govt. Spends N4.3bn on schools’ renovation, furniture”). Just this slight help

from the government can make a big difference in areas with no standard of education. These

movements are essential in the fight to rebuild the education system and will help prepare the

youth of Niger for a stronger future.

By educating their youth and putting more focus on their citizens, Niger will be able to

grow in opposition to the violence surrounding them. UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres

says, “societies based on respect for human rights and with economic opportunities for all

represent the most tangible and meaningful alternative to the recruitment strategies of terrorist

groups” (Yazdani). If the government of Niger can find the attention to focus on schooling, they

will be able to redirect much of their population away from violence and provide them with the

opportunity to pursue an education. A population with higher levels of education will make up a

more successful nation. This will allow Niger to have more success when recovering from the

current situation in the Sahel, and when faced with future conflicts. If the Nigerien government

can find the attention to focus on the education system, they will build up a stronger population,

decrease violence in the country, and allow their nation to excel amidst the conflict surrounding

them.
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Works Cited

“12M In Humanitarian Crisis in Sahel Region, Report Says.” ​DailySabah​, 15 Nov. 2017,

www.dailysabah.com. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

Braga, Amanda, and Christina Kwauk. “How Girls' Education Intersects with Violent

Extremism.” ​Brookings​, Brookings, 13 Apr. 2017, ​www.brookings.edu​. Accessed 30

Nov. 2017.

Buckles, Grant. "Nigeriens Remain Confident in Institutions Amid Conflict." ​Gallup News

Service​, 02 Nov. 2017, p. 3. EBSCO​host​, search.ebscohost.com. Accessed 30 Nov. 2017.

Chambas, Mohamed Ibn. “Africa: Equipping Youth to Renegotiate 'Africa

Rising'.”​AllAfrica.com​, 17 Nov. 2017, allafrica.com/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

“Education in Niger.” ​Education in Niger | Global Partnership for Education​, 17 Nov. 2017,

www.globalpartnership.org. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

Gistmaster. “Niger Govt. Spends N4.3bn on Schools' Renovation, Furniture.”​Gistmaster​, 15

Nov. 2017, niyitabiti.net. Accessed 2 Dec. 2017.

Lewis, Aidan. “U.N. Evacuates First Group of Refugees from Libya to Niger.” ​Reuters​,

Thomson Reuters, 12 Nov. 2017, ​www.reuters.com​. Accessed 2 Dec. 2017.

Oladipo, Adelowo. “Gov Bello Says Niger Set to Improve Quality of Education.”

Tribune​, 2 Nov. 2017, ​www.tribuneonlineng.com​. Accessed 1 Dec. 2017.

“The Refugee Situation in the Sahel: Urgently Responding to This New Development

Challenge.” ​World Bank​, 29 Nov. 2017, ​www.worldbank.org​. Accessed 1 Dec. 2017.

World Bank Group. “Sahel Refugees: The Human Face of a Regional Crisis.” ​ReliefWeb​, 12 Oct.

2017. Reliefweb.int. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

Yazdani, Dina. “[Opinion] EU Must Push African Union on Rights Abuses.” ​EUobserver​, 30
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Nov. 2017, euobserver.com. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.