Chapter 3: Refugees as Educators: The Potential for Positive Impact on Educational Systems

Much of the literature on refugee education—indeed, on the acculturation and integration of refugees in general—focuses on the obstacles refugees face and on the ways in which the systems they enter are challenged by their presence. This chapter examines refugees and education from the opposite angle. It argues that refugees have the potential to offer valuable contributions to the educational systems they enter, particularly in resettlement countries. The first part of the chapter draws on theoretical concepts in the sociological and psychological literatures to make the case for refugee contributions to an overall educational system. The second part offers examples from refugee communities from Burma and Bhutan living in Australia, demonstrating the richness and variety of skills that these communities possess. The third part briefly describes what these experiences and skills may bring to a learning environment.