Syrian Children Return to Classrooms Amid Ruins and Daily Hardship

School bells are ringing again across Syria, but for many children the return to class brings little relief. More than 7,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed during years of conflict, leaving thousands of pupils struggling to secure an education.

In Damascus, eight-year-old Tasnim walks several kilometres home after classes each day, passing streets marked by destruction and the ruins of another school not far from her house. Her family returned to Syria two years ago, not by choice but because they had nowhere else to go.

"When we returned to Damascus, I signed up for a school here. Because the schools near our house are all devastated and out of service, I moved to a school far away," Tasnim said. "Going back and forth is hard to do every day. I wish the nearby schools weren't damaged."

Amid the rubble, Tasnim's house is still standing. With no electricity to light the room, she studies only in daylight. "When I come back from school, I help my dad with his work, and sometimes I go with him to send his work to his employer. Then I come back to study during the day, as the battery runs out of power at night and there's no light. After that, I go to bed," she said.

Between damaged walls and broken doors, Tasnim's father works as a cobbler. With his daughter's help, he can get more work done and earn a little extra to support the family.

"The services here are crippled, especially as no electricity grid is available. We need solar power, but most people can't afford it," said Mahmoud Rushdi, Tasnim's father. "There are a lot of risks also, as the area is deserted and abandoned, and when our children go to school, we worry about them being kidnapped. Living in such a place requires a high level of caution."

Syria's efforts to get its children back into classrooms remain one of the country's biggest challenges.