U.N. says education in Central African Republic at risk

UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (UPI) -- Education in the Central African Republic has been among the casualties in the country's months-long civil conflict, the United Nations said Tuesday.

A statement from the U.N. Children's Fund said half the country's schools are closed, and at least 250,000 primary school students and 30,000 secondary school students, in school at the start of the 2012-13 school year, are at risk of missing a year of education.

Since the Seleka rebel coalition launched an offensive against the government in December, 1.2 million people have been cut off from essential services, including education, the statement said.