If you are interested in learning more about the new Refugee Education
Trust, please contact Tim directly.
Maureen W. McClure
Director, GINIE project
University of Pittsburgh
[log in to unmask]
www.ginie.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Timothy Brown [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 3:06 PM
This is our first press release and concerns one of our first projects.
Best regards,
Tim Brown
Education Officer
Refugee Education Trust Liaison Unit
UNHCR
REFUGEE EDUCATION TRUST (RET) - Press Release
Despite the threats on its education programmes in Pakistan,
RET maintains its action in favour of Afghan refugee children
Peshawar/Geneva, 24 October 2001 - Since the beginning of the bombings in
Afghanistan, RET's programmes in Pakistan are implemented in an extremely
tense environment. An office of the International Rescue Committee (IRC),
RET's partner in Pakistan, was temporarily evacuated last week after a
demonstration led by extremists targeting Western symbols.
RET provides post-primary education for Afghan refugee children in the North
West Frontier Province, NWFP: teacher training and support as well as the
establishment of new schools and classrooms. Emphasis is put on female
education to redress the gender imbalance, and programmes are consequently
subject to numerous pressures. Protection measures have been taken to ensure
the security of teachers on their way to classes and training courses.
More than ever, RET is convinced that it is vital to offer the possibility
of quality tuition to Afghan refugee children in Pakistan. 400'000 youths
between the age of 12 and 17 are in need of secondary education. At present,
a very small percentage of them (about 2%) have access to it, due to lack of
existing infrastructure and adequate resources. For girls in particular, the
refugee setting provides the only possibility to receive any form of
post-primary education. Illiteracy is increasing at an alarming rate,
particularly amongst women in Afghanistan, where it is estimated that less
than 5% of girls attend school. To rebuild the country and ensure regional
peace in Central Asia, Afghanistan has a crying need for educated and
qualified citizens.
RET thus appeals to the International Community to take responsibility and
ensure that the right to education of Afghan refugee children, particularly
girls, is addressed and met, and asks the media to bring the plight of these
children to public attention.
For more information:
Dr Jan van Erps, Executive Director, RET, tel. 0041 79 217 31 10
Madeleine Henley, Communications Officer, RET, tel. 0041 22 739 78 15
RET is an independent humanitarian organisation based in Geneva. Founded by
Mrs Sadako Ogata, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, RET provides
quality post-primary education to refugee children in Asia and Africa.
For donations: RET account nš 39.658 at Banque Lombard Odier, Geneva.
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