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Education in emergencies
Education is a fundamental right, yet in times of conflict and disaster it is often significantly disrupted, denying millions of girls and boys the opportunity to have a quality, safe education.
Schools are, in many instances, occupied by armed groups or used as evacuation shelters, making education impossible.
Recent research indicates that the number of crisis-impacted school-aged children and adolescents requiring educational support has grown from an estimated 75 million in 2016 to 222 million today. Of these, as many as 78.2 million are out of school, and close to 120 million are in school, but not achieving minimum proficiency in math or reading.
An estimated 84% of learners who are not in school are living in areas in protracted crisis.*
Keeping children in school
Education is an urgent priority in emergencies because it:
- Saves lives and provides a safe space for children, where they are protected from physical harm, early and forced marriage, neglect, exploitation, child labour and from being recruited as child soldiers.
- Is identified as a critical need by families and communities affected by emergencies.
- Provides space where children can learn about preventable diseases, nutrition, hygiene and other life saving topics.
- Supports children’s mental and physical health and can include subjects such as conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, climate change and disaster risk reduction.
- Ensures children who were already in school can get back to learning, and allows children who were not in school before to start.
Safe education
Plan International’s education work in emergency contexts strives to provide quality formal and non-formal education opportunities that meet the needs of children affected by humanitarian crises, from early childhood to adolescence. Our work has a particular focus on adolescent girls who are among the worst affected by disasters. Working with teachers is central, to help them manage their own stress, and teach in ways that provide the social and emotional support children need to recover from their experiences and pursue their learning. We collaborate closely with child protection colleagues to enable access to specialised services where necessary.
Ensuring the continuity of education through crisis means preparing for emergencies where they can be predicted. This includes teacher training, and ensuring buildings and school environments are safe. Education should be part of support immediately following a fast onset emergency, based on long term collaboration with education authorities, schools and communities.
Plan International uses the INEE Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response and Recovery and the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS) as guiding frameworks.
Plan International provides support in conflict-affected fragile states, refugee situations, and in countries affected by disasters linked to climate change and natural hazards. Current responses include: complex crises that exacerbate hunger in East and West Africa and Haiti; Ukraine and refugee receiving countries; Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh; Tigray in Ethiopia; the migrant crisis in South America.
Governments must prioritise education in emergencies
There are 222 million children and adolescents globally affected by the horrors of war, disaster and displacement, who urgently require education support. We must ensure their fundamental human right to education, write Yoris, 22, from Indonesia and Angela, 24, from Malawi.
Plan International is an active member of the following inter-agency groups:
- Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Steering Group and technical Working Groups
- Global Education Cluster Strategic Advisory Group, Cash for Education in Emergencies, co-lead, and other Task Teams
- West and Central Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Education in Emergencies Working Groups
- Education Cannot Wait Education Technical Reference Group
- Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack Strategic Advisory Group
- Secondary Education Working Group, co-lead with UNHCR
- Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies
- Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Education Systems, Steering Group and Working Group 2, co-lead
School gives hope to vulnerable children in jordan
To address the biggest violations of children’s rights, Plan International began work in Jordan in 2016. We are supporting young children to overcome emotional distress from the war in Syria and get an education.
* Plan International is not responsible for the content of other sites.
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