Nearly 15,000 schools across West and Central Africa have been forced to close due to violence and conflict, according to UNICEF and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The agencies said the number of closed schools has almost doubled since 2019, rising from fewer than 8,000 to more than 14,800.

The crisis is affecting about 3 million children across the region.

UNICEF said the situation has become worse at a time when global aid cuts are threatening programmes that help children continue learning in conflict-hit communities.

The report also noted that Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo recorded the sharpest increases in school closures over the past year.

Not Nigeria alone

The figure does not mean that 15,000 schools were closed in Nigeria alone.

It refers to schools closed across 24 countries in West and Central Africa.

Nigeria is one of the affected countries, but the number is regional.

This distinction is important because headlines can easily make the crisis look like a Nigeria-only figure.

A more accurate headline is that conflict has forced the closure of nearly 15,000 schools across West and Central Africa, with Nigeria among the worst-hit countries.

Why schools are closing

Schools are closing because violence and insecurity have made learning unsafe in many communities.

In conflict-hit areas, parents are often afraid to send their children to school.

Teachers may also flee for safety.

Some schools are damaged, destroyed, occupied or abandoned.

When this happens, children lose more than classroom lessons. They lose routine, protection, social support and access to a safer environment.

For many children, once school closes for a long time, returning becomes difficult.

Some are pushed into child labour.

Some girls face a higher risk of early marriage or teenage pregnancy.

Some boys become more exposed to street life, exploitation and recruitment by armed groups.

This is why school closures are not only an education problem. They are also a protection, security and development crisis.

What the data is saying

The latest UNICEF-backed report shows a deep education emergency in West and Central Africa.

Nearly 15,000 schools have been closed because of violence and conflict.

The number of closed schools has almost doubled since 2019.

About 3 million children have been affected.

Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo recorded the sharpest increases in school closures over the past year.

The Central Sahel also recorded a slight increase in school closures since January 2024.

Cameroon recorded some progress, with schools reopening in parts of the Northwest and Southwest despite ongoing insecurity.

Nigeria’s education crisis

Nigeria is already facing one of the world’s biggest out-of-school children crises.

UNICEF Nigeria says about 10.5 million children aged 5 to 14 are not in school, even though primary education is officially free and compulsory.

The challenge is worse in the northern part of the country.

In parts of the North-East, insecurity has disrupted learning for years.

UNICEF Nigeria says 2.8 million children in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa need education-in-emergencies support.

It also says at least 802 schools remain closed in those three conflict-affected states.

In the same region, hundreds of classrooms have been destroyed, while many others are damaged but can still be repaired.

This means Nigeria’s problem is not only about children being out of school. It is also about damaged learning spaces, displaced teachers, unsafe communities and weak access to emergency education.

Why girls are at greater risk

UNICEF and its partners warned that adolescent girls are among the most affected by school closures.

When schools are attacked or shut for long periods, girls are often the first to drop out and the last to return.

This can worsen existing gender inequality.

It can also increase the risk of early marriage, early pregnancy and long-term poverty.

For many girls in conflict-hit communities, school is not only a place of learning. It is also a form of protection.

When that protection disappears, the risks around them increase.

What you should know

School closures caused by conflict can damage a child’s future permanently.

The longer children stay out of school, the harder it becomes for them to return.

Learning loss also becomes harder to reverse.

For countries, the long-term cost is serious.

A generation of children without stable education means fewer skilled workers, weaker productivity and deeper poverty.

It can also worsen insecurity because children outside school are more vulnerable to exploitation.

This is why the closure of schools across West and Central Africa should be treated as a major humanitarian and development warning.

Expert view

Education and humanitarian experts say school closures in conflict areas create damage that can last for years.

The first impact is learning loss. Children who miss school for months or years often fall behind and may never fully recover.

The second impact is trauma. Children who witness violence, displacement or attacks on schools may struggle emotionally, even after classrooms reopen.

The third impact is protection risk. When children are out of school, they become more exposed to exploitation, abuse, early marriage and child labour.

The fourth impact is economic. Countries need educated young people to build stronger economies. When millions of children lose access to learning, national development suffers.

For Nigeria, the warning is clear. Protecting schools must become a security priority, not only an education policy.

Governments must protect learning spaces, support teachers, rebuild damaged classrooms and provide emergency learning options for displaced children.

Digital learning can help some children, but it cannot replace safe schools for everyone.

Many affected communities still struggle with poor internet access, weak electricity and poverty. This means online learning must be supported by community-based solutions, safe learning centres and trained teachers.

What governments should do

Governments in West and Central Africa need to protect schools from attacks and occupation.

Security agencies should work closely with communities to identify high-risk schools and prevent attacks before they happen.

Education ministries should create emergency learning plans for children in displaced communities.

Teachers in conflict-hit areas need better protection, training and psychosocial support.

Governments should also invest in rebuilding damaged classrooms and reopening schools only when it is safe to do so.

International partners also have a role to play. Funding for education in emergencies must not be treated as optional. For children in conflict areas, school can be the difference between safety and danger.

Why this matters

Education is one of the strongest tools for fighting poverty and insecurity.

When children stay in school, they are more likely to gain skills, earn better incomes and build stable lives.

When schools close, the damage spreads beyond the classroom.

Families lose hope.

Communities lose stability.

Children lose protection.

Countries lose future talent.

The closure of nearly 15,000 schools across West and Central Africa is therefore not just an education story. It is a warning about the future of millions of children.

FAQs

1. Did UNICEF say 15,000 schools were closed in Nigeria alone?

No. UNICEF said nearly 15,000 schools were closed across West and Central Africa due to violence and conflict. Nigeria is one of the affected countries, but the figure is regional.

2. How many children are affected by the school closures?

UNICEF and the Norwegian Refugee Council said about 3 million children have been affected by school closures linked to violence and conflict across West and Central Africa.

3. What is the Nigeria-specific figure?

UNICEF Nigeria says about 10.5 million Nigerian children aged 5 to 14 are not in school. It also says 2.8 million children in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa need education-in-emergencies support, while at least 802 schools remain closed in those three conflict-affected states.