Gender and inclusion in refugee education

Introduction

Rationale for focus on gender and inclusion in refugee education

Education is a fundamental human right that shapes a refugee’s opportunities and life outcomes. When gender and inclusion are central to refugee education, barriers such as safety concerns, caregiver responsibilities, discrimination, and language differences can be addressed proactively. A focus on gender promotes equitable participation, reduces vulnerability to exploitation, and supports the development of skills that enable refugees to rebuild their lives in new contexts. Inclusion, in turn, ensures that learners with diverse needs—girls and boys, young people with disabilities, and those with language barriers—are not left behind as educational systems adapt to displacement.

Scope and audience

This article surveys the landscape of gender and inclusion in refugee education for policymakers, practitioners, educators, program designers, and advocates. It highlights concepts, policy touchpoints, practical strategies, data considerations, and regional perspectives. The aim is not only to describe challenges but to outline actionable approaches that can be adapted across settings while respecting local cultures and needs.

Context and Definitions

Gender in displacement contexts

Displacement often shifts traditional gender roles and responsibilities, with implications for access to schooling, safety, and decision-making. Girls may face increased risks of early marriage or withdrawal from education due to protection concerns, while boys might encounter different expectations around work or mobility. Understanding these dynamics is essential for designing learning environments that support all learners, recognize fragility, and provide targeted protection and encouragement where it is most needed.

Inclusion and equity concepts in refugee learning

Inclusion refers to ensuring that every learner can participate meaningfully in learning, regardless of gender, disability, language, or background. Equity goes beyond equal treatment by recognizing diverse barriers and offering targeted supports to close gaps. In refugee education, inclusion also encompasses culturally relevant curricula, multilingual instruction, flexible delivery models, and accessible assessment practices that together create learning spaces where all students have real opportunities to succeed.

Policy and Legal Framework

International commitments relevant to refugee education

Global frameworks shape how states respond to refugee education. The commitment to high-quality education for all under Sustainable Development Goal 4, including its targets for inclusive and equitable education, guides national policies. International guidelines also emphasize the rights of refugees to access education on par with host communities, the need for safe learning environments, and the incorporation of gender-responsive practices and protection standards into education programming.

National policy alignment and implementation challenges

National policies must align with international commitments while adapting to local realities. Implementation often faces funding constraints, language barriers, limited teacher shortages, and capacity gaps in coordinating between ministries, NGOs, and UN agencies. Achieving alignment requires clear roles, sustainable financing, and mechanisms to monitor progress, ensure accountability, and adapt to evolving displacement patterns.

Barriers to Inclusion

Gender-based barriers to access

Gender-based barriers include safety concerns during travel to school, caregiving duties that limit study time, and social norms that deprioritize girls’ education. Early marriage risks, gender-based violence, and norms about appropriate education for daughters can further restrict participation. Addressing these barriers requires protective services, safe transportation options, flexible scheduling, and targeted outreach to families affected by displacement.

Disability and accessibility constraints

Many refugee learners with disabilities face physical inaccessibility, limited assistive technologies, and insufficient teacher training to address diverse needs. Buildings without ramps or accessible toilets, lack of materials in sign language or alternative formats, and inaccessible digital platforms exclude students from full participation. Inclusive design and targeted supports are essential to remove these obstacles.

Language, curriculum relevance, and learning modalities

Displacement frequently introduces language barriers and requires curricula that reflect learners’ lived experiences. Instruction in a host country’s language may be challenging for new arrivals, while multilingual and culturally relevant content can boost engagement and comprehension. Learning modalities must be flexible—combining classroom, remote, and community-based approaches—to meet varied circumstances and access levels.

Safety, protection, and psychosocial factors

Trauma exposure, ongoing safety concerns, and psychosocial stress profoundly impact learning. Creating safe spaces, offering confidential reporting channels, and providing mental health and psychosocial support help learners overcome barriers to attendance, concentration, and achievement. Protection policies must be explicit, well-communicated, and integrated into daily school routines.

Strategies for Inclusive Education

Gender-responsive pedagogy

Gender-responsive pedagogy integrates equitable participation, diverse representation, and critical examination of gender norms into daily teaching. Key practices include using inclusive examples, ensuring equal speaking opportunities, addressing stereotypes, and incorporating gender analysis across subjects. Such approaches foster a classroom climate where girls and boys can learn without bias and without fear of discrimination.

• Representative materials and curricula that reflect diverse gender identities.
• Active facilitation that invites contributions from all students, including those who are marginalized.
• Assessment that evaluates critical thinking and problem-solving rather than gendered expectations.

Safe spaces and psychosocial support

Safe learning spaces protect learners from violence and harassment while promoting well-being. Psychosocial support services—counseling, peer support groups, and trauma-informed practices—help students cope with displacement-related stress. Schools can partner with health and protection services to provide integrated support that fosters resilience and persistence in learning.

Inclusive assessment and evaluation

Assessment practices should recognize diverse backgrounds and abilities. This includes flexible timing, alternative formats, language accommodations, and clear accommodations for learners with disabilities. Progress monitoring should be designed to reflect both knowledge acquisition and critical thinking, with safeguards against bias and discrimination.

Teacher training and capacity building

Effective inclusion hinges on well-trained teachers who understand gender dynamics, trauma-informed practice, and accessibility needs. Ongoing professional development, coaching, and communities of practice enable educators to adapt to changing displacement contexts and to implement inclusive strategies consistently.

Data and Measurement

Gender-disaggregated data collection

Data disaggregated by gender illuminate who is succeeding or struggling within refugee education programs. Collecting data on enrollment, attendance, progression, and learning outcomes by gender helps identify gaps, tailor interventions, and track progress toward equity goals. Privacy and ethical considerations are essential when handling sensitive information about displaced populations.

Education indicators and monitoring systems

Robust monitoring systems rely on indicators such as enrollment rates, gender parity indices, retention and completion rates, and learning achievement. Integrating these indicators with protection and psychosocial metrics provides a holistic view of how well refugee education meets inclusion objectives. Regular reporting supports accountability and continuous improvement.

Case Studies and Regional Perspectives

Regional highlights and lessons learned

Across regions—such as the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Americas—common lessons emerge. Flexible delivery models, including modular curricula and distance learning, often improve access for girls who face mobility or safety challenges. Multilingual instruction and culturally resonant content boost engagement, while strong collaboration among governments, NGOs, and communities enhances trust and uptake. Regions also stress the importance of linking education to livelihood opportunities, so outcomes extend beyond the classroom into durable protection and resilience.

Partnerships and Stakeholders

Roles of governments, NGOs, and UN agencies

Governments set policy and regulatory environments, allocate budgets, and ensure accountability. NGOs deliver service delivery on the ground, fill funding gaps, and innovate with community-based approaches. UN agencies provide technical guidance, standards, advocacy, and coordination in complex displacement settings. Effective inclusion requires deliberate coordination to align objectives, share data, and prevent duplication of effort.

Community engagement and accountability mechanisms

Community voices are essential for designing responsive programs. Meaningful engagement includes parent and student councils, feedback loops, grievance channels, and participatory monitoring. Transparent reporting, responsive adaptation, and visible responsiveness to community input build trust and ensure programs reflect lived realities.

Trusted Source Insight

Summary of key insight

Trusted Source Insight synthesizes key findings from UNESCO’s guidance on refugee education. The summary notes that inclusive, gender-responsive education relies on data-informed policy, safe learning spaces, and equitable access for all learners. It emphasizes flexible delivery models, multilingual and culturally relevant curricula, and ongoing teacher training to address barriers in displacement contexts. Strong cross-sector collaboration and alignment with SDG 4 are key. https://www.unesco.org