Education without borders: 

shaping quality education for refugees from pre-primary to tertiary

13-15 November 2024

Workshop in Person format

Background

Armed conflicts have persisted for what feels like an eternity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan. Amid frequent humanitarian crises, climate-induced emergencies, crippling insecurity, and economic instability, the number of forcibly displaced and stateless people was estimated to have exceeded 130.8 million in 2024.[1] The school-aged refugee population is estimated to stand at 14.8 million this year.[2]

This is particularly devastating for refugee children, who are at a critical stage for education. For girls, the lack of education is linked to a higher likelihood of adolescent pregnancy and early marriage, depriving them of the opportunity to shape their own futures.[3] For boys, it results in an increased risk of engaging in dangerous behaviors and reduced access to the labor market, which can lead to a cycle of endemic poverty.[4]

Recognizing the severity of the situation, UNHCR has prioritized establishing equitable and sustainable inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless children in national education systems, as outlined in its Refugee Education 2030 strategy[5], in alignment with the principles of the Global Compact on Refugees.[6]

Despite improvements in the capacity of national education systems through ongoing efforts, many challenges remain. the number of refugee children who remain out of school are still high. According to UNHCR data, during the 2022-2023 academic year, the average gross enrolment rates for refugees were 37% for pre-primary education, 65% for primary, 42% for secondary, and only 7% for tertiary education.[7] Additionally, the shortage of teachers, insufficient and poorly equipped classrooms, lack of food resources, inadequate school supplies, and negative cultural perceptions of education all contribute to the lack of quality education.[8]

To tackle these challenges, UNHCR has implemented the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) program since 1992 to provide scholarships for refugee students pursuing higher education. Additionally, UNESCO's Bridge Program serves as a model for supporting the educational needs of refugees and displaced youth, taking into account the specific contexts of each country.

In this context, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju is organizing a workshop titled 'Education without Borders: Shaping Quality Education for Refugees from Pre-Primary to Tertiary.' This workshop is targeted at public officials in the education sector from the Asia-Pacific region, with the primary objective of raising awareness about the significance of a quality education system for forcibly displaced and stateless children, as well as enhancing capacity for drafting related legislation. The workshop will examine the current status of out-of-school children at the pre-primary, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, key considerations for drafting legislation aimed at ensuring quality education for refugee children, best practices for empowering these children, and personal stories from refugee students and their teachers highlighting the impact of inclusive education.

Overview

Event Objectives

 This Workshop will:

●       Raise awareness among public officials in the education sector from the Asia Pacific region about the critical importance of establishing equitable and sustainable educational systems for forcibly displaced and stateless children.

●       Enhance participant’s capacity to draft and implement legislation that supports quality education, thereby improving access and outcomes for refugee students across all education levels.

Learning objectives

 After this event, participants will be able to:

●       Gain insights into the current status of out-of-school refugee children at pre-primary, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.

●       Learn key considerations for drafting effective legislation that ensures access to quality education for refugee children, including best practices and relevant international frameworks.

●       Explore successful strategies and best practices for empowering refugee children through education, including innovative programs and community engagement.

Methodology

The training will consist of lectures and presentations by experts, group activities, personal impact stories from refugee students and their teachers, and a field trip.

Target audience

This event is open to:

●       Public officials in the education sector from the Asia Pacific region,

●       Teachers and NGO workers in the education sector for refugee children.

Application process

Applicants will be selected by the organizer through a selection process.

*Kindly note that only selected applicants will be notified individually.

*Applicants without the required documents will NOT be considered.

Interested applicants must submit the following documents by 10 October 2024 to: gepark.jitc@gmail.com.

* *Late applications will NOT be accepted.

Assistance with travel expenses

UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC provides LIMITED financial assistance with airfare to Jeju-do, Republic of Korea for participants.

The following table represents the maximum amount of financial assistance for round-trip international airfare to Jeju-do, Republic of Korea to participate in the workshop.

* Local expenses (transportation between venue and hotel, accommodation, and meals) during the workshop period (only from 13 November ~ 15 November) will be covered by UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC.

**All other expenses (local transportation in their own country, visa fee, local transportation from the airport to the hotel in Jeju before the workshop) including during arrival and departure days should be covered by the participants.

***If your final airfare is LOWER than the amount stated in the reimbursement table above, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC will ONLY reimburse you the EXACT amount paid.

Organizer

UNITAR CIFAL Jeju / Jeju International Training Center http://cifaljeju.org/

Inquiries

Program

DAY 1

*The above program is subject to change.

DAY 2

*The above program is subject to change.

DAY 3

*The above program is subject to change.