Insecurity and the presence of armed groups have a destructive impact on the continuity of schooling for many children. At the end of the 2016–17 school year, 500 schools were closed in conflict-affected regions. Some one million children of primary school age are out of school in Mali due to such reasons as school closures, household poverty, child marriage and child labor.

Out-of-school children not only miss out on schooling, they are also exposed to other risks, including child marriage, child labour and other forms of exploitation and abuse.

With the number of schools closed in Mopti doubling in only one year, the situation remains extremely worrying.

Read the full article on learning in Mali by Helen Sandbu Ryeng and Cindy Cao at UNICEF