AUG 24 2020
The American education system is in a period of transition right now— some schools have gone fully virtual, some are in-person, and others are somewhere in between— But what’s going on around the world?
By Lauren Husband, Communications Team
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to grow up in a refugee camp? Of the 20 million refugees under the care of of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), 7.1 million are school-aged. Unfortunately, access to education for these children is limited, with 3.7 million unable to attend school. And as global conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic continue, this number is only expected to increase. Despite the fact that education has been declared an international basic human right for almost 70 years, less than half of school-aged refugee children have access to education.
As of 2018, almost 4 in every 5 refugees are in prolonged situations, meaning they are displaced for more than five years. As a result, children who have been forcibly displaced are likely to remain in transitional camps for much, if not all, of their childhoods. And as each year passes, the likelihood of a refugee child progressing to the next academic grade drops sharply. Since refugee settlements differ vastly around the world in size, demographics, and resources, some camps may have formal school curriculums with technology and staff while others may have not access to organized education at all.
“As they grow up, refugee adolescents come under greater pressure to support their households. In this regard, girls are often at an even greater disadvantage in terms of opportunity costs. Collecting water or fuel, taking care of younger siblings or older relatives, and carrying out household chores are all tasks that fall heavily on girls. As they reach adolescence, girls can face added pressures to give up educational ambitions so that they can marry early or start earning an income instead.
Some of the costs are slightly more disguised but no less real. Longer distances to and from the school gates make reaching school more expensive and potentially more dangerous. And in some regions, refugees have limitations placed on their freedom of movement, preventing them from going to schools that are far from their homes.” –UNHCR
Many Canopy NWA clients have lived a majority of their lives in refugee camps; some were born or entirely raised in refugee camps.
Nyarugusu refugee camp is currently one of the largest refugee camps in the world, with around 153,000 refugees. It was established in 1996 to give shelter to those fleeing conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo and is located in Tanzania. Over half of Nyarugusu camp’s population is below the age of 18, making education a prime concern for the camp’s residents and those who serve them.
Education access at Nyarugusu is great compared to many other refugee camps, but several schools there still don’t have permanent buildings or learning materials. Many children learn in tents or with no shelter.
“A huge funding shortfall means that UNHCR and its partners have been able to build only 137 classrooms in Tanzania’s three refugee camps. More than 70 per cent of students…have to study outdoors, with just 193 permanent classrooms for about 9,600 children. A high student-teacher ratio adds to the difficulties. About 638 additional classrooms need to be built across all three camps.” –UNHCR
While much development and funding is still needed, conditions and access to education at Nyarugusu camp are better than many refugee camps around the globe.
Consider what the future might look like for a child who does not have the same stable access to educational opportunities. Many Syrian refugee children, for instance, have little or no access to education.
Access to education is essential to improving futures for these children. Aside from enrichment and providing a sense of direction and motivation for those in a hopeless situation, completing as much quality education as possible improves prospects of successful integration once resettled. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbates the gaps that exist between refugee and non-refugee populations, often leaving the world’s most vulnerable without access to testing or healthcare. Virtual schooling options are nonexistent in many countries.
So, as we in America attempt to navigate education during the COVID-19 pandemic, consider adding to your child’s virtual or in-person curriculum a section about education around the world. Although access to education is a human right, for many it is a privilege.
Sources:
https://www.unhcr.org/steppingup/
https://www.unhcr.org/1951-refugee-convention.html
https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2018/1/5a37ac6d4/refugee-children-battle-education-tanzania.html
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