Millions of children are forced out of school by war and displacement. UNHCR and its partners run education programs that aim to give refugee children a safe place to learn and a path back into formal schooling.
Educate A Child is one such effort. It is a partnership connected to UNHCR that supports primary education for refugee and displaced children. The work covers teacher training, safer school environments, and cooperation with local education authorities, with the goal of improving both access to school and the quality of teaching.
The Instant Network Schools program is a joint effort by UNHCR and the Vodafone Foundation. It brings digital tools, internet connectivity, and teacher training to refugee learners and children in host communities, so they can use online courses and learning materials. The idea is to help displaced students build academic skills and prepare for a digital future.
The DAFI scholarship program helps refugees attend university. It awards higher-education scholarships to refugee students and aims to include women as well as men, so more displaced young people can earn degrees and contribute to their communities.
Accelerated education programs serve young people who missed years of schooling. These programs help out-of-school youth complete a certified level of education in a shorter time than the standard path. Many also include social and emotional learning, since displaced students often carry trauma from conflict or flight.
Together, these efforts address one urgent fact: large numbers of refugee children remain out of school, and each lost year of schooling makes recovery harder. Supporting refugee education means funding programs, training teachers, and opening doors to universities. More on the global picture is covered in the guide to World Refugee Day. Readers can also look into flexible online degree options, which show how remote learning models can reach learners anywhere, and those considering work in the field may explore careers in education or earning an education degree.
