Education is widely regarded as the key to economic prosperity for developing nations.

Education often leads to lower unemployment, increased social equity, and the spread of political socialization and cultural vitality.  While progress has been made in increasing the number of children enrolled in schools in developing nations, there are many communities with extremely low enrollment records.  The reasons for this vary and must be addressed country by country.

Effect of Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance on Education

But for countries with landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination, additional impediments exist to the goal of   educating all children equally.  In many developing countries agricultural production is the mean means to feed the family.  Therefore, having children work on the farm takes precident over schooling.  This at times can be alleviated by building smaller schools closer to rural communities.  This allows less time to be taken from work activities at home to travel to school and children can go home in the middle of the day during prime planting or harvest seasons.  

In countries with significant contamination, land to build these local schools is often not available.  Also, parents are reluctant to allow children to walk long distances through contaminated areas.  

MAG's work clears land for schools - enabling other development partners to come in for small sums and revitalize education in a community.  But none of that is possible until the land is cleared.  For example, in Vietnam, over 20% of the land cleared last year was used to create new schools.  Please watch the following video about how MAG's work in Cambodia makes the growth of schools possible.

The presence of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in a conflict region also frequently inhibits children's educational opportunities. 

Schools may not function due to rampant instability or because parents and teachers fear that children will be abducted to serve as part of an armed force.  MAG's work removing SALW is necessary to promote security for children and a road to educational opportunities for children.Effect of Small Arms & Light Weapons (SALW) on Education