by Manvitha Prasad Kathula
For children in Niger, education is the first step towards a better future as it can help break cycles of poverty by providing new opportunities. Unfortunately, for most children in Niger, simply going to school is a challenge.
While Niger had made progress to help children reach schools, there are still numerous gaps in the system. More than half of the children from age 7 to 16 are not in school. Furthermore, girls face greater barriers than boys. Among adolescent children, only 26.9% of girls are literate, compared to 50.2% of boys.
Why Children Are Not in School
Poverty is an obstacle as nearly half of Niger’s children live below the poverty line. Families struggling to afford food and other necessities may pull children out of school so they can help support their families by working. In 2024, 43% children from 5 to 14 worked. When children spend their time working, it becomes impossible for them to commit to their education.
Conflict is another barrier for people in Niger. Violence and insecurity have forced schools to close, especially in areas impacted by insurgency. As of April 2025, 1097 schools were closed in the Tillabéry region alone. Even if the schools are open, infrastructure is often inadequate. Many classrooms are temporary structures made from straw and may lack basic facilities such as sanitation. “The school lacked classrooms,” adds Musa, a member of the school’s parents’ association. “Children were learning in straw huts. During the winter, it became difficult for them to attend classes.” A lot of schools also tend to be far away, which makes it difficult for rural students to attend them.
Girls face additional challenges with schooling for multiple reasons, not least of which is the fact that girls are responsible for helping their mothers obtain water for the family each day. In villages without a well, this process can take four to six hours a day. Secondly, menstruating girls will often skip school during their periods due to a lack of sanitation and hygiene facilities at their schools. Finally, Nigerien girls’ education is negatively impacted by a high prevalence of early marriages and pregnancy. UNICEF estimates that 36% of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 have already given birth or are pregnant.
Working Towards Solutions
The government and various international organizations in Niger are working to remove these barriers. New classrooms are being constructed, and existing schools are being actively improved. Furthermore, other programs are providing school meals and additional support to encourage children to attend and remain in school. The government has also launched some efforts to replace the temporary classrooms with permanent structures.
Organizations such as Concern Worldwide are finding ways to keep children learning even when conflict makes traditional schooling difficult. Its Learning Together program uses interactive audio lessons and community facilitators to help children continue their education outside a conventional classroom.
These efforts matter because education cannot always wait for a crisis to end. For a child living in poverty or conflict, school can provide stability and hope.
The work of Wells Bring Hope is part of this larger picture. Access to safe water can remove one of the everyday barriers that keeps girls from school. When a well brings safe water closer to home, girls can spend less time fetching water and more time learning. Water at or near schools can also create a healthier and more supportive environment for girls.
Niger still faces enormous challenges in educating its children. But every new classroom, every child who can stay in school and every girl who gains the opportunity to learn represents progress toward a healthier, more prosperous future.
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