Improving education and human security for vulnerable refugee children

‘Access to education’ is recognized as a fundamental human right and is listed as one of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals to achieve by 2030. Quality education unlocks opportunities and gives individuals the freedom to make livelihood choices and shape their own destinies. However, an increasing number of refugee children are deprived of this fundamental right. According to the UNHCR, between 2010 and 2022, the number of child refugees doubled from 20.6 million to about 43.3 million.

An overwhelming majority of these refugees are displaced to neighboring countries that are short on resources and lack adequate educational infrastructure to accommodate the sudden influx of refugee students. Additionally, children face distress and trauma, social isolation, and economic hardship, which hinder academic performance, and increase the chances of prematurely dropping out of school. Ensuring a quality education for refugee children requires strategies that go beyond traditional educational metrics. It involves creating a safe and inclusive learning environment that empowers students with confidence and the motivation to continue their education.

In this paper, made available online on November 21, 2023, and published in Volume 26, Issue 1 of the International Journal of Comparative Education and Development on February 21, 2024, Professor Taro Komatsu from the Department of Education, Faculty of Human Sciences, Sophia University along with Dr. Kaoru Ghalawinji-Yamamoto, Research Fellow, also from Sophia University, Ms. Yukari Iwama, Senior Program Coordinator, and Ms. Sayo Hattori, former Project Manager, World Vision, Japan, evaluated the effectiveness of one such program that provides remedial education to academically low-achieving Syrian refugee and Jordanian children in Jordan.

“There are a very few studies on refugee education in first-asylum countries. Moreover, there is very limited information available on academically low-achieving refugees that fully take into account the long-term nature of a crisis,” says Prof. Komatsu.

Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, around 700,000 Syrian refugees, half of them under 18, have sought shelter in Jordan. However, the state of education for these refugees is poor, with over 75% of children leaving school before reaching secondary level. This issue is linked to the lack of a safe environment for refugee children in schools, along with a teaching system that separates Jordanian and Syrian children into different shifts. This approach strains school resources and hampers relationships between the two groups.

To improve education outcomes, World Vision, a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) initiated a seven-year remedial education program between 2014 and 2021. This program offered extra support to academically low-achieving Syrian refugee and Jordanian children outside regular school hours. To align with Jordan’s double-shift system policy, separate remedial classes for Syrian and Jordanian students were held after school. However, during school breaks, integrated remedial classes were organized to foster better relationships between the two groups.

The program, which enrolled a maximum of 12 children in each class, aimed to enhance academic learning through an interactive learning approach that included drama and competitions. Teachers were trained in child-friendly classroom management and positive disciplining as alternatives to corporal punishment. In addition to offering classes in Arabic, English, and math, the program included psychosocial activities like recreational trips to build connections between Syrian and Jordanian students.

To assess the program’s success, the researchers examined attendance rates, and test scores, and gathered insights from teachers and students through interviews and questionnaires. The findings revealed that children enrolled in the program felt safer, and more welcomed in school. Most students expressed a strong desire to continue their education, with 52.6% being much more willing and 42.7% somewhat more willing. The program also helped Jordanian and Syrian students connect positively. Among RE students, 66.2% were open to having friends from other nationalities, compared to 41.7% of students not in the program. The direct interaction between Jordanian teachers and Syrian students also led to teachers empathizing more with the Syrian refugee children. Additionally, RE students consistently improved their math scores every year, eventually reaching a comparable level to their peers in regular Jordanian schools.

“With an integrated class that enhanced their relationships with Jordanian children and an engaging and supportive learning environment, the RE program seems to be successful in raising children's academic achievement and motivation to pursue further education,” says Prof. Komatsu.

With the average duration of a protracted crisis being nine years, providing quality education for refugee children is a long-term need. Education outcomes can be improved through effective teaching methods, well-trained teachers, social integration programs, and collaboration with local governments.

Reference

【Title of original paper】Remedial education program for Syrian refugees: ensuring their learning during a protracted crisis

【Journal】International Journal of Comparative Education and Development

【DOI】10.1108/IJCED-02-2023-0008

【Authors】Taro Komatsu¹, Kaoru Ghalawinji-Yamamoto¹, Yukari Iwama², Sayo Hattori²

【Affiliations】¹ Faculty of Human Sciences, Sophia University, ² World Vision Japan

About Sophia University

Established as a private Jesuit affiliated university in 1913, Sophia University is one of the most prestigious universities located in the heart of Tokyo, Japan.  Imparting education through 29 departments in 9 faculties and 25 majors in 10 graduate schools, Sophia hosts more than 13,000 students from around the world.

Conceived with the spirit of “For Others, With Others,” Sophia University truly values internationality and neighborliness, and believes in education and research that go beyond national, linguistic, and academic boundaries. Sophia emphasizes on the need for multidisciplinary and fusion research to find solutions for the most pressing global issues like climate change, poverty, conflict, and violence. Over the course of the last century, Sophia has made dedicated efforts to hone future-ready graduates who can contribute their talents and learnings for the benefit of others and pave the way for a sustainable future while “Bringing the World Together.”

Website: https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/

About Professor Taro Komatsu from Sophia University

Taro Komatsu is Professor in the Department of Education in the Faculty of Human Sciences at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. His research focuses on education policy and administration in developing nations and post-conflict societies and the role of education in affecting social cohesion and peace. He previously worked as an education specialist for the UNESCO Paris and Sarajevo offices, the UN Mission in Kosovo and JICA in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Komatsu holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a PhD in education policy and administration from the University of Minnesota. Taro Komatsu is the corresponding author and can be contacted at: t.komatsu@sophia.ac.jp

Funding information

This study received partial funding from the Sophia Institute for Human Security and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP17J07440.