In Bogor, Indonesia, there are nearly 100 children between the ages of 6 and 16 currently in refugee camps. These children of families fleeing to Indonesia from all over the world—mostly Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Syria—have no access to schooling because they have not yet obtained the legal status of refugees from the government of Indonesia.
To help these children during this uncertain time, Elite Education Group (opens in a new tab) is opening a dedicated Elite campus in Bogor, free of charge. Fully equipped with a computer lab facility, Elite-trained teachers, and an extensive, accredited curriculum, Elite will provide these children full access to an American middle school and high school education through our recognized and proven Elite blended learning programs.
In preparation to launch the first semester on February 1, 2018, Elite Education Group, in partnership with Hope Learning Center of Bogor, has been offering diagnostic and placement tests to the children to ensure a smooth transition for each student into an appropriate course from the start. After successfully launching the school for this community this spring, we hope to grow the school to accommodate even more children in need by fall semester later this year.
Relevant statistics on the refugee crisis released by UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency
According to our latest education report, 3.5 million refugee children did not attend school in 2016. Only 61% of refugee children attend primary school, compared with a global average of 91%. As refugee children age, the obstacles to education increase. Just 23% of refugee adolescents are enrolled in secondary school, compared to 84% globally. For tertiary education the situation is critical. Only 1% of refugee youth attends university, compared to 36% globally.
For almost 14,000 refugees in Indonesia, this plight is a daily reality. Indonesia has a long history of welcoming refugees for temporary settlement. But with just 610 refugees permanently resettled in 2015, the majority are left facing an uncertain future.
