Education in Conflict

Education is affected in many ways during insecurity and armed conflict. Students, teachers and administrators may be threatened or physically harmed and populations forcibly displaced both within and outside the boundaries of their respective States.

Children without access to education become adults who lack skills to find gainful employment and become stuck in a cycle of poverty that spreads through their families and communities. They become more vulnerable to crime and conflict.

Education itself is also affected when it is used as a tool for war propaganda or a vehicle for discrimination or incitement to hatred. It is often entirely discontinued at such times, and its role in supporting sustained recovery can be lost or substantially diminished. Such damage can also restrict the awareness of societies of the need to protect and ensure human rights.

And when natural disasters hit, it is imperative that education continues and any damage to schools or disruption of students’ physically getting to schools, be remedied as quickly as possible.