Reasons to provide education during and after conflicts and disasters

Education is one of the four pillars of emergency response, which include food, shelter, health and education. Education is a fundamental and enabling human right. It is important to achieve education for all, including those affected by conflict and disaster. Conflict and disaster affected communities place strong emphasis on education, often even giving it priority over more material needs. Affected communities request and expect provision of education for their children.

Education gives hope for the future by providing order, structure and a sense of normalcy. Education can help to alleviate the psychosocial effects of conflict, disaster and displacement. Structured play activities and schooling have been shown to ease the shock and trauma of children and youth who have witnessed or participated in horrific acts of violence, or who have lived through the destruction of natural disasters and the loss of loved ones and homes.

Education is a fundamental tool for protection of conflict and disaster affected children and youth from harm and exploitation. In a safe, supportive and secure environment, provision of education can help protect children and youth from recruitment into fighting forces, forced labour, prostitution, criminal activities and drug abuse.

Schooling and non-formal education programmes enable the communication of essential life-saving messages. Such messages may include landmine awareness, education for human rights, peace and conflict resolution, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, basic health and hygiene, HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention, education for natural disaster risk reduction and education for sustainable development. Children and young people can, in turn, be important channels for transmitting those same messages to their families and to the wider community. This enables teachers to bring about change through educational programs.

Provision of education in post conflict and disaster situations promotes economic and social reintegration and reconstruction. For example, when linked to market needs for reconstruction, skills training can contribute to restoring a sense of normality, facilitating revival and promotion of livelihoods and alleviating poverty. Capacity building education can facilitate reintegration and reconstruction.

Adapted from:

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2017). Nine reasons to provide education during and after conflicts and disasters. Retrieved from: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/themes/pcpd/education-in-emergencies/nine-reasons/

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