Kenya: Education unit lobbies for inclusion of refugee students in the mainstream education of the country

Published by unhcr.org

In the education sector and within the camps, UNHCR and partners provide both formal and non-formal basic and secondary education to refugees. In Dadaab, there are 73,394 learners enrolled in ECD, primary and secondary schools. This includes 1,761 students accessing primary and secondary education through the accelerated education programme (AEP). Integration of ICT into learning has been made possible through Vodafone Foundation’s Instant Network Schools (INS) programme. 13 solar powered learning centers have been set up in Dadaab where children and teachers can access local digital educational content as well as the internet over Safaricom mobile network.

Education partners have employed innovative approaches to the delivery of tertiary education through improving access without compromising on quality. Post-secondary education is provided through vocational skills in Kakuma (1 centre) and Dadaab (4 centres) to about 2000 youth. E-learning is offered in Kakuma through Jesuits Commons Higher Education at the Margins (JC:HEM) and Strathmore University. In Kakuma, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has been conducting diploma teacher training sessions to build the pedagogical competencies of the refugee teachers who form the bulk of the teaching workforce.

The Education Unit forges good working relations with Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, County Education Department and education partners through consultative fora and educational management engagements. Education for refugee children and young people is a critical aspect of UNHCR’s international protection mandate. Education also contributes to long-term solutions for refugees, ensuring that displaced generations are equipped to rebuild their lives and communities – either in the country of asylum, upon their return home or on resettlement to another country. UNHCR partners with the following partners to provide education in the camps and in urban centers; Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Windle Trust Kenya (WTK), Islamic Relief Kenya (IRK), CARE, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), RET International, AVSI, Save the Children International (SCI), Don Bosco, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Xavier Project, UNICEF and Danish Refugee Council (DRC) among others.

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