Introduction

Education is a fundamental human right, and during emergencies, it is often disrupted or completely destroyed. Providing access to quality education in humanitarian contexts is not only crucial for the development and well-being of children and communities, but it also plays a key role in fostering stability, social cohesion, and long-term recovery. This 5-day training course will equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to design, implement, and manage education programs in emergencies. The course will address the challenges of delivering education during crises and explore innovative solutions that are context-sensitive, inclusive, and sustainable.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will:

1. Understand the Role of Education in Emergencies (EiE): Gain a comprehensive understanding of how education functions during crises and its critical role in community recovery and resilience.
2. Learn Key Frameworks and Standards for EiE: Familiarize themselves with international frameworks, such as the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) initiative, the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), and the Sphere Standards.
3. Design Effective Education Programs in Emergencies: Acquire practical tools and methodologies for designing education programs that are relevant, flexible, and inclusive in crisis settings.
4. Ensure Access to Education for Vulnerable Groups: Learn how to address barriers to education, especially for girls, children with disabilities, refugees, and IDPs.
5. Develop Education Continuity Plans: Understand how to plan and ensure the continuity of education services before, during, and after emergencies.
6. Incorporate Child Protection and Psychosocial Support into EiE Programs: Learn how to integrate protection, psychosocial support, and well-being into education programming.
7. Monitor, Evaluate, and Adapt EiE Programs: Gain the skills to monitor the effectiveness of EiE programs and adapt them based on the needs of affected populations.
8. Strengthen Coordination and Collaboration in EiE: Develop skills for working with other sectors (e.g., protection, nutrition, health) and actors (e.g., governments, NGOs, community leaders) to ensure a holistic response.

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for:

• Humanitarian Workers involved in education, child protection, and other related sectors in crisis contexts.
• NGO and INGO Staff involved in the planning, implementation, or evaluation of education programs during emergencies.
• Field Managers and Program Coordinators responsible for the operational aspects of EiE programs in displacement, conflict, or natural disaster settings.
• Government Officials responsible for emergency preparedness and education response.
• Teachers and Education Specialists who wish to learn how to deliver quality education in emergency settings.
• Child Protection Officers, psychosocial support workers, and health professionals who want to integrate education and well-being services.
• Donors and funding agencies supporting education in humanitarian contexts.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Education in Emergencies

• Morning Session: The Importance of Education in Emergencies
  • Defining Education in Emergencies (EiE) and its role in protecting children and supporting recovery.
  • Key challenges to education during emergencies: displacement, loss of infrastructure, child protection risks, and gender-based barriers.
  • The link between education and peacebuilding, social cohesion, and community resilience.
  • International frameworks and standards: INEE Minimum Standards, ECW, and Sphere Standards.
  • Case study: The role of education in the Syrian refugee crisis.
• Afternoon Session: Understanding Vulnerabilities and Barriers to Education
  • The unique needs of different groups: children with disabilities, girls, refugees, and IDPs.
  • Addressing gender inequality, child marriage, and psychosocial trauma in EiE programs.
  • The impact of conflict, disaster, and displacement on education access and quality.
  • Vulnerability assessments and strategies for identifying at-risk populations.

Day 2: Designing Education Programs in Emergencies

• Morning Session: Education Program Design and Planning
  • Key principles for designing education in emergencies: accessibility, inclusivity, quality, and flexibility.
  • Adapting curricula to emergency contexts: accelerated learning programs, catch-up programs, and alternative education pathways.
  • Developing learning materials and teacher training tailored to crisis settings.
  • Integrating technology and distance learning in low-resource environments.
  • Case study: The Nepal earthquake response and the establishment of temporary learning spaces.
• Afternoon Session: Delivering Education in Crisis Settings
  • Setting up temporary learning spaces: Structures, materials, and safety considerations.
  • Organizing mobile schools and community-based education.
  • Teacher recruitment, training, and support in emergency settings.
  • Ensuring community involvement in the design and implementation of education programs.
  • Case study: The Rohingya refugee education response.

Day 3: Child Protection and Psychosocial Support in Education

• Morning Session: Integrating Protection in Education Programs
  • Protecting children from violence, exploitation, and abuse in educational settings.
  • Ensuring safe learning environments and child-friendly spaces.
  • Preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in schools and education programs.
  • Establishing child safeguarding mechanisms and reporting protocols.
  • Case study: Child protection in education programs in South Sudan.
• Afternoon Session: Providing Psychosocial Support through Education
  • Integrating psychosocial support (PSS) into education programs: psychosocial first aid and mental health support.
  • Addressing the trauma caused by conflict, displacement, and natural disasters through education.
  • The role of play, recreation, and safe spaces in promoting emotional well-being.
  • Case study: Psychosocial support for children in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake.

Day 4: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptation of Education Programs

• Morning Session: Monitoring and Evaluation of Education Programs
  • Developing monitoring frameworks: indicators, baseline assessments, and data collection methods.
  • Evaluating the quality and impact of education programs in emergencies.
  • Participatory monitoring with communities and children.
  • Using monitoring data to adapt and improve educational programs.
  • Case study: Monitoring and evaluation of education programs in refugee camps.
• Afternoon Session: Continuous Improvement and Learning
  • Adaptive management techniques for EiE programs.
  • Addressing challenges and obstacles in real-time through feedback loops and stakeholder involvement.
  • Ensuring accountability to affected populations and community-based approaches.
  • Reviewing lessons learned and incorporating them into future responses.

Day 5: Coordination, Advocacy, and Sustainability of Education in Emergencies

• Morning Session: Coordination and Collaboration in EiE
  • The role of education clusters and coordination mechanisms in large-scale responses.
  • Working with local governments, NGOs, and international organizations.
  • Ensuring coherence between education, protection, and health sectors.
  • Effective advocacy for education in humanitarian settings: Engaging donors, governments, and the international community.
  • Case study: Coordinated education response during the Ebola crisis in West Africa.
• Afternoon Session: Ensuring Long-Term Education Access and Sustainability
  • Transitioning from emergency education to development: The role of EiE in building resilient education systems.
  • Strengthening local capacity for long-term education delivery.
  • Building community ownership and sustainability in education interventions.
  • Case study: Post-crisis education recovery in Nepal after the 2015 earthquake.