A humanitarian crisis in the Far North region of Cameroon has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians over the past decade. The situation has disrupted education for thousands of children for several years in a row.
Back to school: a better future for 5,000 children in Cameroon
A lack of alternative emergency education and bridge exams for reintegration into formal schooling has made it difficult for children to return. School closures, affecting thousands of pupils in both Cameroon and neighbouring Nigeria, have further compounded the problem.
Additionally, families are often reluctant to send their children to the few remaining schools that are operational. Discouraged by the lack of funds, qualified teachers, appropriate teaching materials and suitable learning environments, families prioritise arranging early marriage for girls and sending boys to work in the fields and look after livestock.
The 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Cameroon shows that 625,737 children in the Far North region, including 248,461 who are internally displaced, are out of school. Over the years, clashes between armed groups in the region have resulted in the destruction or closure of 119 schools, making it difficult for many to resume their formal education.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), alongside its partners, is helping children by introducing innovative teaching and learning methods, rolling out a programme of catch-up and remedial classes. Although thousands of children are once again missing school during the 2024–2025 academic year, some 5,000 have a renewed sense of hope and enthusiasm, thanks to the classes carried out in the Far North region.
A lack of alternative emergency education and bridge exams for reintegration into formal schooling has made it difficult for children to return. School closures, affecting thousands of pupils in both Cameroon and neighbouring Nigeria, have further compounded the problem.
Additionally, families are often reluctant to send their children to the few remaining schools that are operational. Discouraged by the lack of funds, qualified teachers, appropriate teaching materials and suitable learning environments, families prioritise arranging early marriage for girls and sending boys to work in the fields and look after livestock.
The 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Cameroon shows that 625,737 children in the Far North region, including 248,461 who are internally displaced, are out of school. Over the years, clashes between armed groups in the region have resulted in the destruction or closure of 119 schools, making it difficult for many to resume their formal education.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), alongside its partners, is helping children by introducing innovative teaching and learning methods, rolling out a programme of catch-up and remedial classes. Although thousands of children are once again missing school during the 2024–2025 academic year, some 5,000 have a renewed sense of hope and enthusiasm, thanks to the classes carried out in the Far North region.
I can’t wait to go back to school next yearFatoumata, 10
In summer 2024, in collaboration with Cameroon’s Ministry of Basic Education (MINEDUB), we initiated a catch-up programme for 2,536 girls and 2,464 boys in the districts of Mora, Kolofata, Bogo and Mokolo, including the Minawao refugee camp. The programme was set up to reintegrate children into formal education, but also provided an opportunity to address their psychosocial support needs, helping them to overcome trauma where they have experienced conflict and displacement.
Adaptive teaching methods for out-of-school children
During the programme, children took catch-up classes for a four-week period. Classes led by trained teachers catered to the children’s learning levels, covering fundamental subjects such as mathematics, reading and writing. At the end, each pupil received a reintegration kit to reduce the financial burden on their family and encourage them to return to school. The kits included school supplies such as bags, notebooks, pens, pencils and slates.
Fatoumata, 10, had not been to school since 2022. She took part in the catch-up classes to bring her up to speed so she could return to formal education. She said: “I had forgotten how to do maths and conjugation, but with the lessons we were given I remembered, and it was very easy. I can’t wait to go back to school next year.”
Families shared their thoughts with NRC during door-to-door visits to find children who wanted to go back to school. These discussions with parents raised awareness of the programme and helped us better understand the challenges facing families. Djeneba explained that lack of financial means was the biggest challenge: “It’s hard enough to feed myself and my family. We are seven in the house – how am I going to send them to school when they can't even eat?”
The catch-up programme has benefited children and raised community awareness of the importance of education. Families have begun to support their children’s schooling, and local initiatives have sprung up to continue promoting access to education.
We are seven in the house – how am I going to send them to school when they can't even eat?Djeneba
Community involvement, material support and adaptive teaching have paved the way for expansion to reach more children in need and build a better future for the next generation. With the right help, children who have been out of school can successfully find their places in the education system.
Psychosocial support for children
Despite efforts to get them back into school, some children may not be able to return due to conflict-related trauma. In these cases, we offer the Better Learning Programme (BLP), a support initiative that combines psychosocial and educational approaches to help children with the stress caused by trauma. It also gives teachers a better understanding of how to support traumatised children. The BLP is an alternative form of education tailored to meet the needs of children who have been victims of displacement.
The vital role of rebuilding schools
Children cannot go back to school without the right learning environment. In the Minawao refugee camp, we undertook essential construction work to provide access to continuous learning, create safer environments and improve access to water and latrines for the children.
Rehabilitating schools is a priority of early recovery efforts because schooling contributes significantly to fostering resilience and rebuilding children’s dreams. Alongside improving access, we have also undertaken to increase children’s and teachers’ awareness of menstrual hygiene management for girls, helping to counter widespread myths and misconceptions that affect girls’ health and wellbeing.
Education for children is not just about academic achievement, but personal and emotional development. It provides children with opportunities to build positive relationships, develop social skills, and learn important life skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication. Education influences how children behave, how they face challenges and threats, how they learn, think and aspire.
Education is just as important for society as it is for the children themselves. Children are the future, and the economic and social development of a nation depends on how it educates its children and prepares them for that future.
This project is funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW) as part of the multi-year resilience programme in Cameroon, and by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
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