Exploring Educational Opportunities for Refugee Youth
Education is a human right. This right isn’t a point of philosophy or rhetoric, but something upheld by international law.
As such, States have an obligation to ensure that all children and young people living in their country receive a quality education. This responsibility holds true regardless of a child’s status or country of origin.
As such, States have an obligation to ensure that all children and young people living in their country receive a quality education. This responsibility holds true regardless of a child’s status or country of origin.
A refugee in any country should have as much of a right to education as any citizen of that country.
And yet, the percentage of refugees formally enrolled in education is strikingly lower than the global average.
And yet, the percentage of refugees formally enrolled in education is strikingly lower than the global average.
According to UNCHR, only 63% of refugees are enrolled in primary school systems, compared to a 91% global average.
Regarding secondary school enrollment, the numbers are even more stark,
with only 24% of refugees in secondary schools compared to an 84% global average.
Numbers plummet when considering number of refugees attending university, where only 3% are enrolled.
(UNCHR, Stepping Up: Refugee Education in Crisis, 2019)
Regarding secondary school enrollment, the numbers are even more stark,
with only 24% of refugees in secondary schools compared to an 84% global average.
Numbers plummet when considering number of refugees attending university, where only 3% are enrolled.
(UNCHR, Stepping Up: Refugee Education in Crisis, 2019)
It is true that many people don’t choose to attend places of higher education and go on to live rich, fulfilling lives.
However, there are many in the world with the desire to attend university level education.
An educated society benefits our collective community, and so people who wish to continue learning should be supported.
People's lives could be dramatically improved via education and yet, so many are barred from accessing opportunities.
Prevented through no fault of their own, refugees too often fall into this category.
But why is this? What about the established right to education?
However, there are many in the world with the desire to attend university level education.
An educated society benefits our collective community, and so people who wish to continue learning should be supported.
People's lives could be dramatically improved via education and yet, so many are barred from accessing opportunities.
Prevented through no fault of their own, refugees too often fall into this category.
But why is this? What about the established right to education?
The Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989) declares that States have an obligation to make higher education: “accessible to all on the basis of capacity by every appropriate means”.
The UN Rapporteur on the Right to Education stated in a report that the right to education, in practice primary education should be provided universally, with secondary and tertiary provided “progressively” without discrimination.
There remains vagueness to this, a lack of certainty where some states may exploit by not creating programs or actively assisting refugee youth access higher education. It is, unfortunately, the case too, that many refugees simply might not have sufficient resources to attain particular levels of educational opportunity.
The UN Rapporteur on the Right to Education stated in a report that the right to education, in practice primary education should be provided universally, with secondary and tertiary provided “progressively” without discrimination.
There remains vagueness to this, a lack of certainty where some states may exploit by not creating programs or actively assisting refugee youth access higher education. It is, unfortunately, the case too, that many refugees simply might not have sufficient resources to attain particular levels of educational opportunity.
Gaps in policy as well as the affects of forced migration often result in refugee youth losing years of schooling.
Non-profits and NGOs like Modzi are sometimes the only groups directly addressing these educational gaps.
Non-profits and NGOs like Modzi are sometimes the only groups directly addressing these educational gaps.
