CIDA Photo: Stephanie Colvey

-- 17-year-old Isa, Azerbaijan

Schools are targets in conflict situations. In rural communities, the school is often the only real permanent building, which makes it a target for shelling, closure or looting. Teachers are likely to be threatened because they are important community members and are often politically active. In conflict situations, teachers are rarely paid, and getting school supplies is difficult. Overall, the fear and disruption that come with armed conflict make it hard for teachers to teach and for children to learn.

But education is vital during armed conflict. School creates a sense of stability for children and their communities, and gives structure to children's lives. For children who have been involved in combat, injured or victims of sexual violence, getting back into the classroom can be the first step towards recovery. Children who are out of school often receive little support.

During conflict situations, education programs can teach children life-saving skills. Children can learn about landmines, HIV/AIDS prevention, human rights and peace education. However, it can be difficult for children to get the education they need. Some governments will accept refugees, but won't allow the refugees to set up schools, because they don't want to encourage the refugees to stay in their country permanently. Internally displaced children may have trouble enrolling in a new school, because they may not have the identification documents that are required.

• Innovative and informal teaching methods can help promote social justice and human rights in areas affected by conflict.
• In the classroom, stereotypes can be broken down and tolerance can be taught. This type of understanding helps prevent further conflict.
• Donors usually respond quickly to the need for primary schools during emergencies, but are slow to invest in education for teenagers. Many teenagers in war-affected countries do not have basic literacy and math skills.
• Without education, children and teenagers are more vulnerable to military recruitment and sexual exploitation.
• Because of discrimination, it is very difficult for teenage girls to get education during conflict situations. But education is exactly what they need to prepare them for the new roles and responsibilities they often have to take on during conflicts.

1. Educational support should include life skills training, landmine awareness, HIV/AIDS prevention, human rights, peace education and psychosocial support in the curriculum.
2. United Nations agencies should work with governments and NGOs to create long-term plans to respond to educational needs in emergency situations.
3. Specialized learning programs for teenagers should be a key part of emergency education plans and projects.
4. Parents, the community and young people should all be involved in planning and developing teaching curriculum. This will help ensure that what is taught is relevant to the community, addresses child rights and teaches tolerance of other genders, ethnic groups and religions.

Curriculum = the topics and subjects that are taught in a class or at a school.
Psychosocial Effects = a combination of the psychological and social effects of a situation on an individual; in this case, the effect of armed conflict. Psychological factors affect our emotions, behaviour, thoughts, memory, learning ability, perceptions and understanding. Social factors affect relationships with other people.
Refugee = a person who is forced to flee to another country.
Internally Displaced Person (IDP) = a person who is forced to flee within their own country.
AIDS = AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a disease that destroys the human body's immune system. This means that people with the disease lose the ability to fight off other diseases and infections, and can die as a result of common illnesses. AIDS is most commonly spread through unprotected sex, or by sharing needles for drugs.
HIV = HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that scientists and doctors believe causes AIDS.
NGO = NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organization. An NGO is a private group or organization that provides humanitarian aid. They may work with government agencies, but they are not part of the government.