Educators in Exile: The Role and Status of Refugee Teachers

Much of the literature surrounding education in emergencies focuses on the impact of armed conflict on children. Surprisingly little focuses explicitly on teachers, and yet it is commonly acknowledged that the biggest influences on the education a child receives are the knowledge, skills and attitudes of their teacher.

Through field research from Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, the study examines the role and status of teachers in emergencies. It identifies the issues refugee teachers face and makes recommendations on how policy can better address their particular needs and protect their rights, and thus improve access to and quality of education to populations affected by an emergency. The research findings also include data on South Sudan and the status of teachers returning there from exile.

Dr Dirk Willem te Velde is a Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute. He leads the Investment and Growth programme, has published widely on these subjects and advises developing country governments and development agencies.