size of the problem

Displaced youth place a very high value on education. They ask that their children be allowed to attend school. Increasing numbers of displaced children are now receiving primary schooling but too few of them have access to post-primary education because opportunities for post primary education is limited. Between 1993 and 2002 an average of 13 percent of refugee students worldwide, most of them male, were enrolled in grade six or above and the average enrolment for nationals - 18 per cent - in the least developed countries. For the ten countries from where the highest number of IDPs and refugees originate it is estimated that 25 to 28 million young displaced people aged 5-17 did not attend school in 2002. Most of the 25-28 million children that did not attend school were internally displaced or affected by conflict in their own country. 

That discrepancy increases when gender is taken into account, and is even more pronounced at tertiary education level. Education gives these refugee youth self-esteem and dignity, and the chance to solve their own problems, defend their rights and become self-reliant.

As the number of refugees has diminished from 22 million in 2003 to approximately 9 million in 2006, we need to recalibrate our focus not only on the emergency relief needs of refugees, but on developmental needs for the returnees, and of course on the ever-growing numbers of internally displaced arising from conflicts within the borders of countries.

DECEMBER 2005 GLOBAL VIEW OF DISPLACEMENT

Figures from 2005 estimate that here are approximately 35 million refugees and internally displaced persons in the world, of which approximately 7 million who are of secondary school age, that is, in the age range 12 to 17 years. The average net enrolment ratio is 3%. In comparison, the enrolment ratio for nationals in the least developed countries is 18%.

Education is more than promoting the ability to write and read; it is also to learn to understand the complexity of life, the complexity of growing up and to be creative, to cultivate the mind through culture, to cultivate the body through sports, to learn how to live together, to understand the diversity of the world and to be good citizens in this world, to have open and critical minds, to be sensitive, respectful and accountable regarding issues such as democracy, peace and prevention of violence and conflicts, health including HIV and others diseases.