Education in Emergencies and Learning Post-Conflict

by Mike Smith · 2009-09-27 17:06:00 UTC
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As disasters strike around the world, education often becomes difficult. But it's absolutely essential to get kids back to school, and getting them learning again. Not just for the kids themselves, but for society as a whole. UNICEF explain that "in times of crisis, education is an effective means to help re-establish normalcy, create safe environments and enable children to learn essential life skills."

UNICEF further explain that quality education can be one of the first dividends of peace and can help promote social cohesion. See how can we make a difference through 10 actions. I've just done action number 1: Raise Awareness. There are nine other ways that education can continue in emergencies which makes for really interesting reading that made me realize just how challenging education in emergencies can be and how essential it is for education to begin to "promote health and safety, human rights, citizenship and peace."

Education isn't all standardized testing and charter schools. And of course, this isn't a far and distant problem: New Orleans experiences similar post-disaster problems.

[Photo credit: Julien Harneis]

Mike Smith is associate editor at Change.org.
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