Note to reader: this is a RANT and I am angry about other things also so I am unreasonably angry in this blog post
We've all seen those pictures and videos coming out Palestine. I don't need to attach those here.
We've all seen conflicts around the world growing up- in newspapers, then on Facebook, now on Instagram.
We've all seen the children.
Children who can barely survive. Children who are losing their families, their homes, themselves.
We've talked about how ironic it is that the US-centric NGOs started taking education in conflict, or conflict in general, seriously after 9/11. How problems seem important only when they become WHITE problems. Fuck them, right? That's so self-centered- so shallow.
Is it not shallow and self-centered to think that we have all the answers? That we know that the golden key to everything is providing education to these kids? That education will help them 'cope and hope'?
I'm sure the people who came up with these studies have done their research- there must be a reason why the INEE was created. They're not just pulling this shit out of their ass- I'm sure that education DOES have all those transformative qualities that they claim it does.
What I have beef with is the fact that it is all so extremely theoretical.
How do you bring all those theories to life? How do you have context-specific interventions that end up actually doing good and making a change?
How can you say that education needs to be a first priority response along with medical aid, food and shelter, when it is probably not even in the top 20 priorities for those actually affected? (It's possible that education is a first priority for them- I don't know.)
There is so much we've studied about how important education is- it undoubtedly is. I agree. There's been so much about interventions- the School in a Box program, NGOs dispatching resources for governments to distribute, short two-week training workshops for members of the community. I think everyone is sick of me constantly asking HOW but in spite of all the detail we've studies, all the case scenarios we've read about, that is a question that's still unanswered for me and it's driving me crazy.
What's also driving me crazy is the fact that I know that there are no answers. It may just be my irrational need to control or fix every situation ever but it is so frustrating NOT having a solution. What do you mean there's no right answer? That's insane.
My question throughtout the course and to you the reader then is: Do you think education in conflict is possible? Do you think there truly is an answer or a solution to this problem? And how important do you think education really is in a warzone- realistically?
Maybe the real question is whether education matters more to us than survival does to them.
I appreciate the honesty in your frustration. It captures the complexity of education in conflict zones while asking crucial, albeit challenging, questions.
I agree with your skepticism about theories versus practice. Programs like School in a Box and short-term teacher training workshops sound promising but often fail to address context-specific realities. For instance, what good is a box of supplies if there's no safe space to set it up? Or if the training doesn’t account for cultural differences or local languages? These gaps underscore your point about needing interventions that are not only theoretical but grounded in the lived experiences of those affected.
Your blog opens the door to a conversation that needs more voices. You remind us to question assumptions,…
Your recent blog post poses crucial questions about the idealism surrounding education in contexts of conflict. The frustration you articulate about the theoretical nature of many interventions is, after all, wholly justified, especially as the lived reality of those most affected is often quite different from what international agencies prioritize. How does theory translate into reality? While we arguably must wonder if education really should take precedence over immediate needs such as food, shelter, and safety. You rightly challenge the accepted assumption that education is the cure-all, and I wonder whether practical challenges to implementation such as cultural sensitivity and local context might be constructive avenues to explore in closing the gap between theory and reality. And, finally, how do…
Your blog is raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically honest—and that's what makes it so impactful. The emotional weight of your words mirrors the frustration and helplessness that many feel when grappling with the enormity of education in conflict zones. You don't just present a problem; you dissect the underlying hypocrisies and contradictions that make it so maddening.
Your critique of the West’s selective prioritization of issues, especially the US-centric focus on education in conflict post-9/11, is razor-sharp. It forces readers to confront the implicit biases that shape global responses to crises. The anger you channel into questioning whether education interventions are truly context-specific or just theoretical is both valid and necessary.
Your repeated "HOW?" strikes a chord—it’s the question that so…
I believe that while education is undoubtedly important, interventions need to be more grounded in the lived realities of conflict-affected communities, and we need to move beyond theoretical frameworks to focus on adaptable, context-specific approaches that can truly support people in crisis. The answer isn’t clear-cut, and that’s perhaps the hardest part to accept.
Your raw frustration is palpable, and it's an incredibly valid rant—because the tension between theory and reality, especially in conflict zones, is maddening. Education in conflict feels like one of those "utopian dreams," and your anger at the disconnect between lofty ideals and grim realities resonates.
Maha you're right to question the prioritization of education alongside immediate survival needs like food, shelter, and safety. I have been quesitoning it too, if you remember my presentation. It's a fair critique that the education-first approach may reflect the priorities of outsiders rather than those living the experience. Survival should always come first—how can children learn if they’re starving, homeless, or terrified for their lives? Yet, education also seems to be one of the…