The UNHCR's "Back to School" campaign has been launched in Gado-Badzéré, a town in the East region of Cameroon, where many Central African refugees are concentrated. The goal is to encourage refugee children to return to school and stay in the classroom. The campaign follows a similar initiative in Bazzama, in the Mandjou district. According to Daniel Maleboua, president of the Refugee Parents' Committee in Garoua-Boulaï, despite efforts to promote education, several obstacles remain, including the cost of schooling, a shortage of teachers, and a lack of resources to ensure regular attendance.
Cameroon is home to 433,744 refugees, mostly from the Central African Republic, with many living in the East, Adamawa, and North regions. According to UNHCR data from June 2026, 255,112 of these refugees are from the Central African Republic. The country's education system faces significant challenges in providing for the educational needs of these refugees. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 17,926 children of preschool age, 53,088 of primary school age, and 51,737 adolescents of secondary school age were in need of education.
Despite the high demand for education, the enrollment rates for refugee children in Cameroon remain low. Only 3.2% of preschool-age children, 50.7% of primary school-age children, and 1.8% of secondary school-age adolescents are enrolled in school. The significant gap between primary and secondary education highlights the risk of exclusion from education for many refugee children. Efforts are being made to address these challenges and increase access to education for refugee children.
The "Back to School" campaign is part of a broader effort to promote education among refugee children in Cameroon. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of education and encourage parents to send their children to school. It also seeks to provide support to schools and teachers to help them accommodate the needs of refugee children. By working together, the UNHCR and the Cameroonian government hope to make a positive impact on the lives of refugee children.
The education of refugee children is a critical issue in Cameroon, with many children facing significant barriers to accessing education. The UNHCR and the Cameroonian government are working together to address these challenges and provide education opportunities to those who need them most. By investing in the education of refugee children, they hope to help build a brighter future for these young people.
In addition to the "Back to School" campaign, other initiatives are underway to support the education of refugee children in Cameroon. For example, 346 students in the Adamawa region recently received school supplies, including notebooks, slates, and shoes. Such initiatives demonstrate the commitment of the Cameroonian government and its partners to promoting education among refugee children.
As the new academic year begins, the UNHCR and the Cameroonian government are urging parents to prioritize education and send their children to school. By working together, they hope to increase enrollment rates and provide more refugee children with access to education. The goal is to help these children build a better future for themselves and their communities.
Key points
- The UNHCR's "Back to School" campaign aims to increase access to education for refugee children in Cameroon.
- Despite efforts to promote education, significant challenges remain, including the cost of schooling and a shortage of teachers.
- Refugee children in Cameroon face significant barriers to accessing education, with low enrollment rates in preschool, primary, and secondary education.
