The role of education in post-conflict societies

Why education matters in post-conflict contexts

Education sits at the center of recovery after conflict. It upholds the rights of children and youth to learn, supports families in rebuilding routines, and lays the groundwork for economic and social renewal. In fragile environments, schools can become stable institutions that anchor communities and signal a return to normalcy. Beyond immediate relief, education helps translate peace into daily life by shaping mindsets, skills, and opportunities that communities need to move forward.

Restoring access to learning for children and youth

Many schools in post-conflict settings suffer damage or disruption, leaving millions of children out of formal learning. Restoring access means more than reopening classrooms; it requires removing barriers to enrollment, offering flexible learning options, and restoring safe, welcoming spaces. Temporary learning centers, accelerated programs, and community-based learning can help bridge gaps while permanent infrastructure is rebuilt. Reestablishing routine and predictable schooling supports families and reduces the risk of child labor, early marriage, and dropout among vulnerable groups.

Education as a tool for social cohesion and trust-building

Education provides a neutral platform for dialogue, reconciliation, and shared civic norms. Inclusive curricula that recognize diverse identities help reduce tensions and rebuild trust across communities fractured by conflict. Teachers play a pivotal role as mediators and signals of a society that values every learner. When learners experience fairness, cooperation, and mutual respect in schools, these attitudes can extend into family and community life, contributing to a more cohesive social fabric.

Supporting mental health and psychosocial needs in schools

Trauma, displacement, and loss affect students and educators alike. Schools can integrate mental health and psychosocial support into everyday routines, offering counseling, peer support, and stress-management strategies. Training teachers to recognize signs of distress and refer students to appropriate services strengthens school-based care. A holistic approach—addressing emotional well-being alongside academic achievement—helps students recover more quickly and remain engaged in learning.

Protecting learners and safeguarding education during recovery

Safeguarding remains essential as communities rebuild. Clear child protection policies, safe reporting channels, and safe online practices protect learners from abuse, exploitation, and violence. Ensuring access to schooling for girls, children with disabilities, and displaced learners is a matter of equity, safety, and long-term resilience. Recovery planning should embed safeguarding as a core standard in all education initiatives.

Key challenges and barriers

Post-conflict education faces a complex mix of dangers, gaps, and competing priorities. Recognizing and addressing these barriers is critical for sustainable progress.

Safety, security, and damaged infrastructure

Ongoing instability and threats to safety deter families from sending children to school. Damaged infrastructure, unexploded ordnance, and limited transportation options hinder access and reliability. Rebuilding safe routes, securing school sites, and implementing community protection measures are prerequisites for sustained enrollment and attendance.

Financing, governance, and accountability

Funding for education is often scarce and fragmented in post-conflict contexts. Donor support, government budgets, and aid agencies must align to create coherent plans. Transparent governance, clear roles, and accountable financial management help ensure resources reach classrooms, teachers, and learners, rather than becoming mired in bureaucracy or leakage.

Equity, inclusion, and reaching marginalized groups

Displaced populations, girls, children with disabilities, and minority communities frequently face higher barriers to education. Language barriers, cultural norms, and discriminatory practices can limit participation and achievement. Targeted outreach, inclusive policies, and adaptive learning options are essential to ensure that no learner is left behind as systems restart.

Education policy and reform in post-conflict settings

Policy and reform connect immediate recovery with long-term development. Thoughtful design can align education with broader peacebuilding goals and sustainable growth.

Linking education with peacebuilding and development goals

Education policy should be rooted in peacebuilding and development strategies, reinforcing social cohesion, employment prospects, and civic participation. This alignment ensures that school improvements contribute to broader stability and prosperity, rather than existing as isolated interventions. Setting clear milestones helps track progress toward both learning outcomes and social recovery objectives.

Inclusive curricula, teacher capacity, and professional development

Curricula need to reflect diverse histories, languages, and perspectives while promoting critical thinking and problem-solving. Investing in teacher recruitment, preservice training, and ongoing professional development strengthens instructional quality and supports educators working in challenging environments. Supportive supervision and peer networks can sustain motivation and improve retention among teachers facing difficult working conditions.

Data-driven planning, monitoring, and evaluation

Reliable data are essential to understand gaps, allocate resources, and measure impact. Education systems should establish simple, context-appropriate indicators for enrollment, attendance, learning outcomes, and safety. Regular monitoring enables timely adjustments and demonstrates accountability to communities and funders alike.

The role of international organizations and partnerships

International cooperation can catalyze recovery, but lasting impact comes from coordinated, country-led efforts that strengthen national systems.

Coordinated support to strengthen national education systems

Collaborative frameworks help align donor programs, technical assistance, and financing with national priorities. Joint planning reduces duplication, builds local ownership, and supports a coherent pathway from emergency relief to sustainable development. Strong partnerships also facilitate knowledge sharing and the diffusion of best practices across regions facing similar challenges.

Designing effective programs and learning from practice

Programs should be evidence-informed, adaptable to local contexts, and sensitive to the capacity of national institutions. Learning from field experiences—what works, what doesn’t, why—drives better design, scaling, and sustainability. Documentation of lessons helps other countries prepare for future shocks and avoid repeating costly mistakes.

Measuring impact and learning outcomes in conflict-affected areas

Measuring progress requires both quantitative data and qualitative understanding of how learners experience schooling in crisis contexts. A nuanced approach captures not only test scores but also access, resilience, and long-term opportunities.

Data collection, indicators, and monitoring

Data collection should be practical, ethically conducted, and protect learner privacy. Key indicators include enrollment rates, attendance continuity, retention, progression, and basic learning outcomes. Regular assessments adapted to disrupted environments help track progress without overburdening schools or students.

Assessing resilience, access, and learning outcomes

Resilience measures examine how quickly and effectively education systems bounce back after shocks. This includes the capacity of schools to reopen, maintain safety protocols, and resume learning even when external conditions remain unstable. Access reflects equity—whether all groups can participate—while learning outcomes monitor not only knowledge, but the development of skills critical for future study and work.

Practical strategies for practitioners and policymakers

Practitioners and policymakers can adopt pragmatic approaches that balance immediate relief with durable capacity building. The following strategies focus on actionable steps that improve learning in the near term while strengthening systems for the long term.

Balancing short-term relief with long-term capacity building

Short-term relief—such as emergency tutoring, temporary classrooms, and accelerated programs—must be designed to transition into long-term system strengthening. Investments should build teacher capacity, repair infrastructure, and establish governance mechanisms that endure beyond crisis periods. This dual approach helps learners regain momentum while building a robust foundation for sustained education outcomes.

Community involvement, parental engagement, and local governance

Engaging communities and parents in decision-making fosters legitimacy and local ownership. Community-based monitoring, school management committees, and transparent communication channels help align education initiatives with local needs. Strengthening local governance encourages greater accountability and a sense of shared responsibility for children’s learning.

Leveraging technology and innovative approaches in learning

Technology offers flexible ways to reach learners when classrooms are disrupted. Radio broadcasts, offline digital resources, mobile learning, and low-bandwidth platforms can extend access to remote or underserved areas. Innovative approaches should be paired with teacher readiness and equitable access to devices and connectivity to avoid widening gaps between learners.

Trusted Source Insight

Trusted Source Insight

UNESCO emphasizes rapid, safe access to inclusive learning spaces in post-conflict settings and highlights education’s central role in peacebuilding. It calls for coordinated, multi-sector recovery efforts to restore learning, protect learners, and rebuild trust through inclusive curricula and strong teacher support. https://www.unesco.org