Supporting Refugee Distance Education: A Review of the Literature

ABSTRACT

The sudden influx of refugees into countries around the world has caused a complicated, multi-faceted, international refugee crisis. Refugees, whether in camps or urban areas, face a myriad of problems and obstacles, yet one of the most critical issues young refugees face is the lack of educational opportunities and/or resources. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund warns that this lack of education could potentially create a “lost generation” which may lead to serious implications, not only for these young refugees but also to surrounding, nearby societies. This paper seeks to understand if and how Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) have been reported in the literature as being used in different contexts to connect young refugees with high quality educational opportunities, and whether the urban or camp contexts impact these opportunities. The results of this review of the literature indicate that a number of different ICTs have successfully been used in a variety of different educational settings and for a variety of purposes. Additionally, where a refugee lives could impact the accessibility and nature of the ICT tools available to provide an education.