Education in emergencies provides lifesaving and life-sustaining psychosocial, physical and cognitive support. It can sustainthe progress of children who were in education and create opportunities for those who missed out, via accelerated educationprogrammes, vocational training, and other non-formal and formal learning programmes. Through education, people living throughcrises learn key survival skills and risk reduction strategies, including how to protect themselves from sexual abuse, infectionsand explosive devices, and acquire essential information about their rights, and about health and nutrition. Education canbe a transforming, peace-building force that strengthens resilience to future shocks and offers a vital space of normalityand routine to children, young people and adults who have been profoundly affected by emergencies.
Inclusive, equitable education in emergencies can enhance learning opportunities for all, improve outcomes, generate innovation,assist governments to ‘build back better’, and normalize or embed inclusion in systems emerging from crises.
During emergencies, humanitarian organizations play a fundamental role in restoring education systems by supporting the effortsof national governments. This can be a transformative opportunity, if governments are willing to prioritize the inclusionof learners with disabilities and ensure that national and local frameworks comply with recognized global standards and guidelineson inclusion of persons with disabilities.
See also the sections on WASH, CCCM, Health, Nutrition and Protection.