Alternative Education
Filling the Gap in Emergency and Post-Conflict Situations
Children in emergency situations, especially those who have been affected by conflict, have a wide range of educational needs depending on their context. [Despite a number of challenges,] they may, however, be prepared to attend an alternative education programme with the goal of completing at least the primary cycle or of achieving basic literacy and numeracy skills, and perhaps learning some type of trade or skill that will help them obtain employment.
This book reviews some of the types of alternative education programs that are offered in emergency and post-conflict situations and the contribution of these programs to achieving the goals of Education for All (EFA), including the improvement of the quality of education. The authors focus specifically on the goals related to access to primary education and life skills programs, the elimination of gender disparities in primary and secondary education and the improvement of educational quality.
The authors consider two broad types of alternative education programs—those that provide an alternative means of access to education (for example, accelerated learning programs and home-based or community-based schools); and those that are alternative in curriculum provision.