Learning in a time of crisis: life-saving or life-threatening?
Much has been said about the power of education to promote a sense of normalcy and provide hope and recovery following a period of crisis – be it a pandemic, conflict or natural disaster. However, education can also provoke further social unrest and breed societal tensions.
It is increasingly recognised that attention needs to be given to the form, functions and purposes of education provision before, during and after a crisis. Unfortunately, though, education remains an afterthought or perceived ‘luxury’ in humanitarian responses, despite its transformative potential in building societies back better. This talk provides examples of how this has occurred in both Aotearoa New Zealand and a range of recent conflict-affected contexts globally, and looks at ways we might ask for, and expect more from, education in the increasingly tumultuous world in which we live.
Bio
Dr Ritesh Shah is a Senior Lecturer of Comparative and International Education and is a global expert on education provision in times of crisis and conflict. He has spent time researching these issues around the world, including in Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Ukraine. He currently leads a project titled ACCESS, which focuses on improving access to learning for out-of-school children and youth around the world.
Event
6:30pm @Wynyard Grill, Shop 3/142 Halsey Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Also speaking at this location at 8:00pm is Karamia Müller
