Education

In parallel, the UNHCR Office in Cyprus organizes campaigns with the participation of schools, and also collaborates with other institutions, organizations and individuals for the development and dissemination of educational materials such as manuals, brochures, and posters. There is also a large collection of refugee photographs that help teachers to introduce refugee issues into the classroom, which in turn acquaints them with topics such as human rights, diversity and the importance of the social inclusion refugees. Moreover, the online game Against All Odds / Ταξίδι Φυγής is a multilingual  experiential learning tool for each player that can also be used in a variety of ways by teachers to discuss refugee and asylum issues in an innovative way.

The educational material you will find in this section of our website is addressed to teachers of all grades, as well as school counselors, educational staff, team leaders and anyone working in the school system and within the field of education. The materials are particularly flexible and can be adapted according to the particularities and needs of each class and subject being taught. They have been developed so as to be used for cross-cultural enrichment, to enhance teaching methods, and to supplement the existing school books.

To share educational materials and presentations you may be developing, as well as to discuss ideas and educational initiatives within and outside the classroom, contact us.

Materials

With forced displacement reaching unprecedented levels across the globe, the challenges are new and many for teachers to tackle the subject effectively in their classrooms. Teaching about refugees is UNHCR’s multilingual set of resources for teachers all over the world to tap into. Teaching about refugees has been adapted into Greek by UNHCR’s office in Greece.

To help children of all ages learn about refugee issues, UNHCR has produced a range of teaching materials and set up an online group for teachers to swap ideas and discuss lesson plans. To find out more and to sign up, visit Exchange.

For more UNHCR’s work globally, visit the Education pages of our global website.

Reports

The 2022 UNHCR Refugee Education Report All Inclusive: The Campaign for Refugee Education reveals the urgent need for more international support for refugee students. It tells the stories of some of the more than 10 million refugee children of school age under UNHCR’s mandate. Data from more than 40 countries shows how refugees lag behind their non-refugee peers when it comes to enrolment in all levels of education. Average enrolment rates for refugee children in primary schools in the 2020-2021 academic year were broadly stable at 68 per cent. But enrolment drops sharply to 37 percent at secondary level, which refugee learners have historically struggled to access.

The publication on Refugee Education in Cyprus: Challenges and Opportunities takes a closer look at access to the national education system for children at the Reception Centre, unaccompanied children, mainstreaming and other schooling options. A series of recommendations are offered and integration measures are also highlighted.