Executive summary
Sustaining education during emergencies is both lifesaving and life-sustaining, as well as a fundamental right. Yet with growing needs and shrinking aid budgets, education for a generation of children caught up in conflict and crises is at a crossroads.
Severe funding shortfalls are forcing the suspension of critical education support for millions of children affected by armed conflict, displacement and the climate crisis. Schools are closing, teachers are going without their salaries, and students are at risk of dropping out of education permanently.
Evidence shows that teachers are the single most important factor in children’s learning and recovery. As the UK determines its spending priorities in the context of a diminished aid budget, the National Education Union calls on the UK government to sustain funding for education in emergencies and prioritise investment in teachers in emergencies.
Recommendations
1. Sustain funding for Education in Emergencies (EiE), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW).
2. Tackle teacher shortages in emergency contexts by developing a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) global teacher strategy.
3. Put female teachers at the centre of efforts to advance gender equality.
4. Deliver on the UK’s pledge at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum.
5. Ensure accountability for attacks on education and educators.
6. Work with the international community to support the payment of teachers’ salaries in emergencies.