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UNHCR 2009/10 Field Report
While the scope of the Educating the Children of Darfur project is limited to four camps, the policies and standards that have been established there serve as a model for refugee education not only in the twelve camps in Eastern Chad overseen by the UNHCR, but every place where refugee children need to be educated.
These policies and standards include establishing a database of teacher competencies and student abilities; and the implementation of quality training workshops conducted by UNHCR and International Rescue Committee.
These and related efforts have generated enthusiasm among both the refugees themselves and the NGO personnel who are helping to administer the project.
Update on Construction
Teaching is underway in the new schools and multi-use centres that have been built in each of the four refugee camps—Touloum, Kounougou, Mile, and Iridimi. The compounds of the newly-built schools have been fenced and include a sports/recreation area. Each school is equipped with 25 double desks per classroom, plus maps, globes and other supporting material. The multi-use centres have been furnished with generators, TV, audio systems, laptop computers, printers, along with cupboards, tables, chairs, books and wall-charts. Approximately 15,000 textbooks have been purchased; the goal is to have five books shared among five children, one for each of the most important subjects: Islam, Arabic, English, Math, and Science.
Security
The security situation continues to improve allowing greater access to the camps and more time spent supervising progress at the schools. The use of Chadian staff, non-UN vehicles, and motor bikes supplied by UNHCR have made a difference.
Training and equipping teachers
Besides the physical plant, more than 470 teachers have been filmed teaching a lesson which was then observed by an educational consultant. To date, approximately 300 teachers have been trained and accredited. Each teacher has a "passport" that indicates what level they have —A, B, or C. A means introductory teacher, B intermediate and C, more advanced. To provide a way forward for refugee children who are about to leave primary school vocational courses are being offered in: library management, electronics repair, henna/hairdressing, brick production and food preparation.
Ongoing challenges
Secondary education as a protection tool. One of the key protection issues affecting refugees in Eastern Chad is the continued recruitment of child soldiers by the armed elements. To a large extent, the lack of alternatives after primary school is a contributing factor to the issue of child recruitment. The problem is further compounded by the lack of socioeconomic opportunities in the camps and the very limited access to secondary schooling or vocational training. Some parents actively support the recruitment of their children which in turn makes it all the more difficult to follow-up on such incidents.
Security. Conditions have improved from early in the year when regular delays were incurred in accessing the camps due to the prevailing security situation and the requirement for armed escorts. The political situation on the ground is fluid and security needs are continually monitored. International staff are particularly constrained by movement restrictions and security clearances.
Dealing with disparity. PwC and the UNHCR are working to address the issue of disparity between the ‘PwC children’ and the non- PwC children, in terms of the quality of education the refugees are now receiving. Expanding the pilot program throughout all the camps overseen by the UNHCR in Eastern Chad will help alleviate this issue. While we continue to strive towards a consistent educational standard for all refugee children, it is recognized that the implementation of a pilot project introduces temporary imbalances. |
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