Attacks on education around the globe

If, as many educators believe, enhancing educational opportunity creates more opportunity, stability, and positive civic engagement, then education would be a threat to those who benefit from a country staying uneducated. A report on violence against educational institutions around the world indicated that incidents are on the rise, although the report recognized that irregularity in reporting makes comparisons difficult.

Fifty-two violent events were documented in higher education with the highest reported type being "violent repression of students and professors and educational personnel who are engaged in protest." The apparent motivations for attacks include efforts to delegitimize the government (since educational institutions are highly visible demonstrations of state authority) and objections to the content of the curriculum, including who is allowed to attend (i.e. women and girls).

A sad realization is that the motivations for and the way institutions are targeted for violence confirm that those who seek to maintain despotic cultural and government conditions are the ones served by the violence.