7/27/2019 Press Statement Over 1.4 Million Girls and Boys About
to Return to School
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Statement by the Representative of UNICEF Guinea: Over
1.4 million girls and boys about to return to schoolCONAKRY,
October 3, 2013 Following Independence Day, a bright opportunity
awaits the childrenof Guinea. Today over 8,500 primary schools all
throughout Guinea will open their doors for the 2013-2014 school
year. Over 1.4 million enthusiastic students, almost half of them
girls, will sharpen theirpencils and crack open fresh books. Many
students will begin the school year in one of the 224
newschoolhouses constructed with the support of UNICEF in Guinea
and our partners through the GlobalPartnership for Education (GPE)
Fund, among others. Another 74 schools will be built by the end of
theyear. Throughout Guinea, UNICEF has also assisted in the
construction of 30 community educationcentres for young
children.
These new schoolhouses have separate latrines for girls and boys
and are equipped with child-friendlydesks and chairs.
In addition to the new facilities, UNICEF and our partners in
Government have procured schoolssupplies including: exercise books,
notebooks, pens and pencils, backpacks and math boxes
andfacilitated their distribution to over 200,000 children.
Of course, no pupils could learn without good teachers---which
is why we are training over 1,500teachers, complementing the
Government efforts to train over 15,000 teachers who
needsupplementary support.
UNICEF in Guinea places a great importance on community
involvement in childrens education. Overthe next few days, millions
of Guineans will receive text or SMS messages from all
telephonecompanies in the country including: I am 6 years old;
bring me to school on October 3rd! It is my
right! or Dear parents of children 6 years old and older, make
Back to School a priority! It is a dutyfor parents. This reminds
communities of their obligation to childrens education. There have
alsobeen public service announcements running on local radios in
many of the national languages.
UNICEF is also supporting the Government of Guinea to provide
education, even in emergencysituations such as flooding in Kankan
and Kindia and conflict in the Forestry region of Nzerekore.
Moving forward, UNICEF in Guinea will be working toward
enrolling the remaining school-age girls andboys currently out of
school. We will provide women community social advocates with
motorcycles toallow them to reach these children in remote
villages.
It is our goal to see that all Guinean children learn in a safe
and stimulating environment so that theycan build a better future
for themselves, their communities, and their world. Please join me
in wishingthem a successful school year.
Mohamed Ayoya, MD, PhDRepresentativeUNICEF Guinea
For further information, please contact:Timothy La
[email protected] (+224) 631 70 14 60/61Communication
SpecialistUNICEF Guinea Conakry
PRESS RELEASE
