Today, September 9, the world observes the UN’s "International Day to Protect Education from Attack". Yet access to education at all levels is but a shattered dream for millions of children and young adults who live in crisis-affected countries.
In proclaiming the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, the UN is sending a clear message regarding the importance of safeguarding education institutions as places of protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.
The Global Platform for Higher Education in Emergencies (former Global platform for Syrian Students), founded by President Jorge Sampaio in 2013, is fully committed to contribute to expanding the access to higher education to students and researchers in need of protection, at risk or in forced mobility.
Thanks our emergency scholarship programme supported by a multi-stake-holder platform, since 2014 more than 300 Syrian Students have resumed their education and most of them have already graduated and completed their academic degrees.
We are now strongly committed to set up a Rapid Response Mechanism for Higher Education in Emergencies (RRM) to be able to deliver more, better and faster academic opportunities on the ground. At the same time, we are preparing a new initiative to support Afghan female students as well as to stepping up our emergency scholarship programme, notably for Syrian and Lebanese students.
Matching words and deeds is the only way to make progress. Endorse our goals, join our ongoing efforts. Together we can make it happen.
