The goal of Save the Children Sweden’s education programme is that all children especially those vulnerable to marginalization and exclusion – have access to and actively participate in and benfit from quality primary education.
Inclusive education and nondiscrimination
Inclusive education looks at how we can transform mainstream systems in order to respond to learner and learning diversity in a constructive and positive manner. This programme addresses educational exclusion and discrimination in South Asia through national and regional advocacy. We are conducting a regional study around discrimination and participation to properly address the multidimensions of social exclusion. This involves mapping the scope and nature of discrimination and understanding underlying causes and effects so solutions are relevant across a range of issues.
Civil society and education advocacy
Civil society can inform and influence the integration of child rights into education. This programme lobbies and builds the capacity of civil society actors, including children’s networks and educational networks, to promote, protect and implement child rights in education. We work with other regional actors to define quality education and teaching standards from a child rights perspective and develop messages and materials to strategically influence regional/national debate and policy.
Education in emergencies
Education is often one of the first victims of an emergency. Getting children back to school or to safe spaces during or after a crisis is a proven way to protect children and provide a location for recovery. This programme focuses on ensuring education in emergency situations, on disaster preparedness, education for peace, child rights and citizenship. We educate staff and teachers about their responsibilities during an emergency and ensure the active participation of children in planning for and responding to an emergency.
Educational quality and retention
Quality education takes into account different dimensions such as inclusiveness, effectiveness, relevance, participation, diversity/gender responsiveness, health and protection, and the involvement of parents and communities. Concepts like Inclusive Education, Child Friendly Schools and Inclusive Learning Friendly Environments are strategies that translate the UNCRC into policy and practice. This programme involves children, parents and communities in school assessments and documents good practice in the that showcase how children’s rights can be translated into quality education.
Teachers and teacher education
Teachers are key to ensuring that education is relevant, of good quality and meeting children’s learning and emotional needs. This programme focuses on making teacher education curricula more sensitive to child rights issues. This includes learning how to foster nondiscrimination and participation in the classroom and promotes the best practices of teachers. We also look at how teachers can work to address gender inequality and gender-based violence.