The young generation holds the key to our future leadership. The experiences they encounter today shape the path we’ll tread tomorrow. Education stands as a crucial pillar to provide them stability amidst uncertainties. Their upbringing will inevitably cast ripples on the governance of tomorrow. Sadly, refugee children bear the brunt of decisions made by adults, their lives hanging in the balance. Stranded in the crossfire, they grapple with the aftermath of choices beyond their control, impacting every facet of their existence.
A solid education stands as a beacon of hope for these children. It possesses the transformative power to uplift their psyche, intellect, emotions, and social interactions. Education acts as a catalyst for holistic growth, propelling children towards betterment on every front. Given the situation, securing quality education for refugee children must take precedence as a critical imperative.
The UNHCR and several humanitarian organizations have been advocating for education support for refugee children. UNICEF confirms shocking statistics from in the following report. It reveals, “Children make up less than one third of the global population, but almost half among the world’s refugees in 2020. Today, nearly 1 in 3 children living outside their countries of birth are child refugees; for adults, the proportion is less than 1 in 20”2. Those staggering figures reflect the unpredictability of millions of children who, by no means of theirs, became caught in helpless
conflict situations. This is an indirect call for focus on children’s issues, especially education, as will be the focus of this paper. Imagine all these children have ambitions and career dreams, but they do not see them coming to pass because they cannot attend school. The numbers continue to rise. As such, the international community cannot remain almost silent about how to support them.
Why do refugee children need education?
Refugee children deserve the opportunity to get an education just like every other child. They remain children, primarily innocent. They must not be in the background when respecting some of their most basic rights. The international community has emphasized how relevant education has to be for ‘all’ children in its United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
The renowned UNCRC, ratified by 196 countries, encompasses 54 articles outlining children’s rights and the collaborative responsibilities of governments, extending its protection to both children and refugees. Guided by this convention, governments are bound to ensure children’s essential requirements are met, fostering their complete development in an impartial manner. At its core, this convention recognizes the fundamental rights of every child.
These include the right to:
Life, survival, and development.
Protection from violence, abuse, or neglect.
An education that enables children to fulfill their potential.
Be raised by, or have a relationship with, their parents.
Express their opinions and be listened to.
On a more specific note, the UNCRC emphasizes that children and young people have the right to education no matter who they are: regardless of race, gender or disability; if they’re in detention, or if they’re a refugee. (Paraphrased).
Who is responsible for the education of refugee children?
The international community bears a vital responsibility to uphold the principles outlined in the universal UNCRC document. Within its framework, Articles 28 and 29 delineate both the rights of children and the corresponding responsibilities of governments, ensuring the well-being of children worldwide, irrespective of their location. These articles extend their protective reach to encompass vulnerable refugee children, who have faced increased vulnerability amid persistent unresolved conflicts in the last decade.
The above-mentioned articles are:
Article 28
- States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this
right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
(a) Make primary education compulsory and available free to all;
(b) Encourage the development of different forms of secondary education, including general and
vocational education, make them available and accessible to every child, and take appropriate
measures such as the introduction of free education and offering financial assistance in case of
need;
(c) Make higher education accessible to all on the basis of capacity by every appropriate means;
(d) Make educational and vocational information and guidance available and accessible to all
children;
(e) Take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates. - States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that school discipline is
administered in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity and in conformity with the
present Convention. - States Parties shall promote and encourage international cooperation in matters relating to
education, in particular with a view to contributing to the elimination of ignorance and illiteracy
throughout the world and facilitating access to scientific and technical knowledge and modern
teaching methods. In this regard, particular account shall be taken of the needs of developing
countries.
Article 29
- States Parties agree that the education of the child shall be directed to:
(a) The development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their
fullest potential;
(b) The development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and for the principles
enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;
(c) The development of respect for the child’s parents, his or her own cultural identity, language
and values, for the national values of the country in which the child is living, the country from
which he or she may originate, and for civilizations different from his or her own;
(d) The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding,
peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and
religious groups and persons of indigenous origin;
(e) The development of respect for the natural environment. - No part of the present article or article 28 shall be construed so as to interfere with the liberty
of individuals and bodies to establish and direct educational institutions, subject always to the
observance of the principle set forth in paragraph 1 of the present article and to the requirements
that the education given in such institutions shall conform to such minimum standards as may be
laid down by the State.
United Nations Convention for the rights of refugees
As if the UNCRC is not sufficient to decry this absolute right which all children need imperatively,
the United Nations Convention for the rights of Refugees, in its Article 22, clearly states:
Regarding public education:
- The Contracting States shall accord to refugees the same treatment as is accorded to nationals
concerning elementary education. - The Contracting States shall accord to refugees treatment as favorable as possible, and, in any
event, not less favorable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances, with
respect to education other than elementary education and, in particular, as regards access to
studies, the recognition of foreign school certificates, diplomas and degrees, the remission of fees
and charges and the award of scholarships.
Refugees shall enjoy, in the territory of the High Contracting Parties, the same treatment as
nationals in regard to elementary education. 2. In the case of other education, refugees shall enjoy
the most favorable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country, in particular as regards
the remission of fees and the award of scholarships.’ This is an excerpt from the original
commentaries made by the Commissioners when this article was formulated.
Adding to interpret the articles, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland said children and young people have the right to both primary and secondary education and should be able to choose different subjects in Secondary school. This should include the option of technical and vocational training, so they shouldn’t have to focus on academic subjects if they don’t want to.
What does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulate?
Quoting from the mother of all rights documents, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lays
down in Article 26 that:
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and
fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory.
Quoting the late Nelson Mandela, a beacon of Human Rights, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This potent tool should not be out of reach for vulnerable children like refugees. It’s unjust to deny them this chance, preventing them from enjoying their rights fully. Inclusion is crucial, as neglecting their education risks jeopardizing future generations and perpetuating ineffective governance. This ignorance-laden path could breed leaders ill-equipped to understand their potential or make informed decisions, driven by emotions and bitterness due to denied opportunities. To avert this potential chaos, ensuring education for all is paramount.
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