In Myanmar, education is not only a right: it means survival. For almost five years, since the outbreak of internal conflict in February 2021, the country has plunged into an increasingly complex humanitarian crisis, fuelled by conflict, economic instability, natural disasters and the collapse of essential services.
Today, 16.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, including almost 5 million children. More than half of the population lives in conflict-affected areas, and civilian safety continues to deteriorate. Added to this is the devastating impact of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the country in March 2025, damaging infrastructure and worsening already enormous needs.
War and violence have led to a sharp rise in displacement: 3.6 million people have been forced to leave their homes, finding refuge in informal and unsafe shelters, with insufficient access to food, healthcare and clean water.
In this context, children’s education has been severely disrupted: almost 1 in 3 school-age children does not attend school, and the figures rise dramatically among the most vulnerable groups, including internally displaced communities.
The reasons are many: schools closed because of fighting, buildings destroyed or damaged, teachers absent, and school costs becoming unaffordable. And when school is no longer there, children are exposed to extremely serious risks: forced recruitment, child labour, early marriage, violence and exploitation.
Bringing school back to the heart of children’s lives: CESVI and the EU’s commitment
The education crisis in Myanmar is vast. An estimated 3.5 million people (almost all of them children) need education support, while insecurity and ongoing attacks make it impossible to guarantee learning continuity.
The March 2025 earthquake further worsened the situation, damaging more than 24,200 infrastructures, including schools and learning spaces, across 422 villages. And when safe spaces disappear, trauma grows: children and adolescents live with fear, stress, family separation and the loss of stability.
In a country where education is often no longer accessible, CESVI and the European Union are working to ensure education continuity and protection for the most vulnerable children in conflict-affected areas.
Through the CO-LEARNS Plus project, implemented with EU support, CESVI intervened especially in the Magway and Sagaing regions, strengthening a model of education based on community engagement and local resilience.
In areas where formal schools do not operate regularly or have been closed, CESVI supported 100 community learning centres: locally created and managed safe spaces where children can continue learning and catch up on missed school years.
Thanks to this intervention, more than 12,000 girls and boys were able to take part in a full education pathway in each main programme cycle, including adolescents and older young people who are often excluded from traditional learning routes.
To make these spaces more welcoming and effective, CESVI also distributed educational materials and tools for recreational activities.
In emergencies, education is not only about learning: it is also a way to feel safe. That is why we invested in the training and support of 300 teachers and community tutors, strengthening their ability to recognise signs of distress and support children affected by stress and trauma.
Alongside lessons, CESVI promoted expressive and recreational activities – sports, games, storytelling and creative activities – helping children rebuild trust and positive relationships.
Why education is a humanitarian priority
Without education, children lose far more than school: they lose opportunities, protection, stability and a future. In Myanmar, where the crisis continues to push families beyond their limits, ensuring access to safe education also means preventing violence, exploitation and marginalisation.
On the occasion of World Education Day, CESVI and the European Union renew their commitment alongside the children and communities of Myanmar: because learning, even in an emergency, can be the first step towards living again.