Download Brief_The_multiple_faces_of_education_in_conflict-affected__fragile_contexts.pdf

Contents : The multiple faces of education in conflict-affected and fragile contexts Conditions linked to conflict and fragility including poor governance violence repression corruption inequality and exclusion may affect accessibility quality relevance equity and management of education provision in ways which can exacerbate economic social or political instability. Within a given context education can help produce the benefits of inclusive and constructive integration of individuals and communities socially politically and economically. However depending on the nature of design and implementation education also has the potential to perpetuate or entrench dynamics of fragility. An understanding of these dynamics is critical to ensure that education at a minimum does no harm and at its best contributes to conflict prevention and long-term peacebuilding. Conflict and fragility: Potential barriers to education provision Economic and financial impacts The economic and financial impacts of fragility and conflict on education delivery can result in a degradation of quality a dramatic decrease or complete cessation of education provision and/or imbalanced investment at different levels or geographic areas of the education system. In addition to limited investment and availability of economic resources uncoordinated and/or disconnected service delivery and the lack of transparency and accountability in conflict-affected and fragile situations can leave education systems vulnerable to corruption neglect and poor management. Economic insecurity may prevent students from meeting the required expenses associated with education or force learners to pursue income-generating activities instead of attending classes. Limited economic opportunity may also have implications for the relevance of education for a significant majority of young people who find themselves unable to translate skills acquired into material gain. Impact of Violence Endemic violence breakdown of rule of law government repression and/or active presence of armed groups and/or state security forces introduce serious protection threats leaving students personnel and education facilities vulnerable to attacks recruitment and abuse. Such violence both directed against and occurring within the education process - has long-lasting consequences for education systems as well as individual learners. Curfews and checkpoint closures landmines and destruction of school property can dramatically affect provision and access. Even when physically able to access education learners and staff may be exposed to abuse violence and discrimination that can adversely affect quality and learning outcomes and have devastating social and psychological effects. Social conditions Communities may rally around an education system to sustain it during conflict or degradation as a result of fragility on the other hand increased tensions and divisions associated with conflict and fragility may dramatically decrease public engagement in the education system. Unequal access to education along religious cultural ethnic or linguistic lines is a common grievance contributing to and resulting from conflict and fragility as are the irrelevance or exclusionary nature of curricula which privilege the history culture religion and language of one culture over another. Furthermore conflict and fragility may disrupt the social fabric of society in ways which increase the vulnerability of particular groups for example forced migrants women and girls learners with disabilities or marginalized youth. Education: Potential impacts on conflict-affected and fragile contexts Education s potential to either mitigate or exacerbate conflict and fragility is a result of nuanced interfaces between education policies planning and programming and the drivers and dynamics of conflict and fragility. Simply ensuring that children and young adults receive basic education services does not automatically translate into policies systems and classrooms that will contribute to conflict prevention or peacebuilding. Schools and classrooms can provide the space in which people of different origins can be brought together and taught how to live and work together peacefully. However the dynamics in fragile contexts can negatively impact the quality of what children and youth experience in the classroom and further entrench inequity divisions discrimination and structural violence along religious cultural ethnic or linguistic lines. Access equity and inclusion Access to education has proven itself as a contributing structural factor both fueling and moderating conflict. Education is a highly symbolic indicator of equity linked to income-earning potential and the ability to diminish or perpetuate inequalities. Education policies or practices that exclude groups of citizens can contribute to broader patterns of exclusion cutting off individuals and groups from the econo

INFO HASH : e8a1fd0f3fa2015c03c7fff5aed5f2af9908a311

Download now

File Size: 42.7 kb