Education and Internally Displaced Persons

Description

What are the barriers to education for internally displaced persons? How can these be overcome? Drawing on research from a diverse set of countries, including the the USA, Somalia, Colombia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the contributors consider the relationship between education and internally displaced persons. These case studies raise fundamental questions regarding the barriers to education and some unexpected benefits for displaced children. The dynamics that impact access and quality of education for internally displaced people are examined and the role education can play in rebuilding societies and strengthening peace building processes is considered.Each case study brings to light a different aspect of displacement including various causes: current legal protection and its implications for government action and practical responses; challenges arising from country contexts related to the scale and duration of displacement; and the role of education in meeting the needs of returnees.

Christine Smith Ellison is a Research Associate in Education, Conflict and International Development at the UNESCO Centre, University of Ulster, UK. Alan Smith is the UNESCO Chair in Education at the University of Ulster, UK, where he is Professor of Education.

The authors provide a very valuable addition to the growing literature on education in emergencies, with their emphasis on the education of the internally displaced. The chapters draw out the opportunities, constraints and approaches required for meeting the educational needs of IDPs, some of which have much in common with those applying to refugees and others affected by conflict, but many of which are particular to IDP situations. Several case studies illustrate well the main arguments. * Chris Talbot, Consultant, Education in Emergencies and Co-founder of the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) * A very useful multidisciplinary analysis of the barriers to education for internally displaced children, shedding light on issues and solutions in a number of different countries. This book is important for examining the high percentage of out-of-school children affected by conflict, who are all too often off-the-radar. * Alice Farmer, researcher on migrant children, Human Rights Watch *