GERE blog

Isaac reflects on the long-overlooked status of refugee teachers and the gap between formal employment and full recognition. Drawing on his experience as a teacher and researcher, he highlights moving stories of retired teachers and the urgent need for clearer conditions of service, stronger advocacy, and real policy change. (Think Piece 13 of 18)

Margaret reflects on how shared experience helped build trust during data collection with fellow refugee teachers in Uganda. She highlights their resilience, the role refugee teachers can play in bridging language and cultural gaps, and the importance of listening to refugee voices to support more meaningful change. (Think Piece 11 of 18)

Mbalau examines the barriers that limit refugee teachers’ participation in Zambia’s education system, from discrimination and qualification recognition to fees, language, and movement restrictions. He argues that inclusion is not only fair, but also valuable for education systems, social cohesion, and national development. (Think Piece 10 of 18)

Anitha reflects on how the research transformed her as a teacher, woman, and mother. She shares how listening to others revealed gaps in refugee teachers’ access to employment and rights, while also strengthening her confidence, creativity, and sense of purpose. Her piece is a powerful story of personal growth. (Think Piece 8 of 18)

Vasco reflects on the challenges and rewards of being both a refugee teacher and a peer researcher in Zambia. He shares how data collection changed his fears into confidence, and how participants voiced strong support for refugee teacher inclusion. (Think Piece 7 of 18)

Deborah reflects on her journey as a refugee teacher and the relief of joining a study focused on refugee teachers’ challenges. She shares what she learnt from meeting other teachers, hearing diverse perspectives, and redefining key ideas through lived experience. Her piece is also a clear call to see refugees as people with dreams, skills, and voices. (Think Piece 5…

Clodina reflects on the power of listening to refugee teachers and the importance of recognising their experiences. She highlights how data collection opened up honest conversations, revealed resilience, and reinforced the need to create spaces where refugee teachers are heard, valued, and empowered to contribute to education. (Think Piece 4 of 18)

Zebron reflects on the potential of refugee teachers when they are empowered and included. Drawing on his own experience as a refugee teacher, researcher, and educator, he shares what he learned from collecting data and listening to others, including the importance of dialogue, trust, and support in unlocking teachers’ contributions. (Think Piece 2 of 18)

Abraham shares his insights on the realities of teaching and conducting research in contexts of displacement, and what he has learned about himself and his community from listening to the experiences of others. His words highlight the importance and urgency of creating space for refugee voices in decision-making. (Think Piece 1 of 18)

This video includes perspectives from our refugee teacher researchers in Chad, Uganda and Zambia, as well as some emerging findings from our research.

In this video - first shared at UKFIET, The Education and Development Forum conference 2025 - the Peer Researchers introduce themselves, speak about their experiences of teaching in their host countries, and reflect on the first phase of the project.