Blog 9: Malala is face of global attacks
on schools
One young 15 year-old girl has
become the face for “ensuring that children, no matter where they
live, can enjoy an education in safety and security.” Malala Yousufzai, an education and
women’s rights activist, was shot on October 9, 2012 in the back of her neck as
result of an attempted assassination. This
shot was administered by a Taliban gunman and though Malala is suffering for
her beliefs, she has made history that will never be forgotten.
The former
British Prime Minister and now United Nations Special Envoy for Global
Education, Gordon Brown, has begun to petition with intended results of having
all children around the world in schools by the end of 2015. Malala will
forever hold the honor of being the cause of this worldwide petition and this
is represented by Gordon’s slogan “I am Malala”, used to promote the issue at
hand.
Bede
Sheppard writes of war zones that are highly endangering students, teachers,
and school buildings ranging from Afghanistan to Yemen. During a visit to Thailand he encountered a
school still undergoing smolder days after an arson attack by Separatist
insurgents who do not agree with what is being taught to students. Since the 2004 begin to these violent acts of
destruction, 152 teachers have been assassinated and schools within 25
countries, during the past 5 years, have been overtaken or attacked. Sheppard speaks of the updated curriculum taught
by the new al Qaeda-linked extremist teachers that include learning how to use various
weapons.
Interviewed
children comment on their schools being military bases and speak of how badly
each institution is damaged due to the militia occupying each building. The schools are targets, not safe learning
environments for children to develop, as they should be. Taking away a child’s right to education is a
mistake that any country will regret in its future. Not only is a child’s right to knowledge important
but their safety should be a priority and not doing so reflects unethical behavior
that has to be stopped immediately. Gordon
Brown is doing an undoubtedly amazing thing by starting his “I am Malala”
petition and I, as I am sure many do, hope that he has success in his wishes to
globalize education as mandatory to all children, as well as concern for safety
within schooling systems.
No comments:
Post a Comment