Education in Conflict Zones: Challenges and Solution

No calamity befalls a child-like war, during the conflict children find it difficult to learn because their main priority is survival. Children living in unstable environments like refugee camps or internally displaced person camps often face challenges accessing education due to the lack of security in their living conditions. As a result, many refugee children are unable to attend school regularly (Common Futures Conversation,2023). Education in conflict zones is often severely impacted by the violence, instability, and destruction that characterize such areas. In recent times, we have seen schools targeted putting students and educators at risk.

Figure 1: Beth Duff-Brown.(2018) African war children. [Online image] [Accessed on the 19th of April,2023] https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2018/08/african-armed-conflict-kills-more-children-indirectly-than-actual-fighting/_jcr_content/main/image.img.780.high.jpg/africa-war-children.jpg

Education in conflict zones not only undermines the infrastructure of schools but also disrupts the very essence of learning for school children. Students lose sanctuaries of learning, with amenities like clean water becoming distant dreams. Scarce resources and trained educators lead to overcrowded classrooms and outdated teaching materials, stifling educational growth. Displaced families endure a double blow, uprooting not just homes but educational continuity. Such disorder doesn’t just disrupt learning; it scars the minds of both students and teachers, diminishing their capacity to flourish.

In times of conflict, girls often face cultural barriers that prevent them from accessing education. They are usually the first to stop going to school when conflict breaks out and the last to go back once the situation has improved. Even if they aren’t being attacked, girls may be more likely to lose out on an education due to conflict, either kept home for their safety, especially on commutes to and from the classroom, or forced into child marriage as a means of coping with the economic impacts conflict has on vulnerable families. To ensure that all children have the opportunity to continue their education during conflict, it is important to address the gender-based obstacles that girls face. This could involve providing teaching materials that are sensitive to gender issues and working with parents and community leaders to challenge discriminatory practices that affect girls’ access to education.

Figure 3:Education in DRC. (2022) Conflict areas in Africa. [Online image] [Accessed on the 19th of April,2024] https://www.flickr.com/photos/usaidafrica/51839334417

Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes the protection and provision of education even amid conflict. This can involve;

• Establish safe routes to school, demilitarize educational spaces, and provide security measures to protect students and teachers.
• Rehabilitation of damaged schools, providing temporary learning spaces, and investing in essential facilities like clean water and sanitation.
• Offering counseling services, trauma-informed care, and mental health support to help students and educators cope with the effects of conflict.
• Provide training and support for educators to address the specific challenges of teaching in conflict zones, including trauma-sensitive pedagogy and conflict resolution skills.
• Involving local communities in decision-making processes, fostering partnerships between governments, NGOs, and community organizations, and ensuring that education remains a priority even during times of conflict.

Figure 2:Africab Education Watch.(2023) Education Alert [Online image] [Accessed on the 7th of May,2024] https://africaeducationwatch.org/images/slides/students.jpeg

To ensure that children have the right to education in conflict zones, it is important to protect the education system itself. Education is crucial for the well-being and safety of children in these areas, as it can protect them from being targeted for abuse, exploitation, or recruitment by armed forces and groups. Schools should be a safe environment where children can be shielded from threats and emergencies. Education plays a key role in breaking the cycle of crisis and preventing future conflicts. By addressing these challenges and implementing comprehensive solutions, it’s possible to mitigate the impact of conflict on education and provide children in conflict zones with the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a better future.

Bibliography

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/06/three-priorities-protecting-education-conflict-zones(Accessed on the 19th of April,2024)

https://www.unicef.org/education-under-attack (Accessed on the 19th of April,2023)

Mundy, K., & Dryden-Peterson, S. (2015). Educating children in conflict zones: Research, policy, and practice for systemic change — a tribute to Jackie Kirk. Teachers College Press.

Co-written by Temitope Ayandele: https://ng.linkedin.com/in/temitope-ayandele-2281341bb