Educational Destruction and Reconstruction in Disrupted Societies

Since the World Conference on Education for All (Jomtien, 1990), education in conflict and crisis situations has emerged as a new challenge to be addressed by the international community. Indeed, the initial optimism of a post-Cold War world based on peace has given way to the recognition of the spread of social, political and ethnic antagonisms. It has come to be recognized that education and training are key components of international relief responses to the emergencies resulting from these conflicts. There is now an urgency not only to provide rapid educational responses to the consequences of complex emergencies, but also to address the role of education in the root causes of conflict. Rehabilitation and reconstruction processes are now consequently perceived as "windows of opportunity" to redesign educational systems in view of fostering stability and promoting peace.