West Africa: Five million children out of school because of Ebola

| January 5, 2015

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Five million children are not attending school in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone because of the Ebola outbreak, according to a report by the Global Business Coalition for Education.

Authorities have closed schools and other public buildings to decrease the spread of the virus. Many buildings are now used as holding centres for Ebola patients.

The report said that being out of school can have a crippling impact on children. Girls in particular are more likely to face high-risk situations such as early marriage and pregnancy.

The report further states that, if schools are not reopened, the most vulnerable children will be trapped in a cycle of poverty with devastating consequences for their health and economic development.

To read the full article, go to: http://www.trust.org/item/20141203173030-fmmlh/