The geography of displacement: How the 2023 violence is reshaping educational access and equity
Author(s): Sapam Rahul Singh and Joyben Okram
Abstract: In May 2023, violent ethnic clashes in Manipur, India displaced tens of thousands and severely disrupted the education system. This paper analyses recent surveys, official reports, and field studies to understand how conflict-driven displacement has reshaped educational access and equity. We find that most displaced learners experienced prolonged school closures, infrastructure damage, and psychosocial trauma. Many students lost academic time, though large-scale admissions efforts partly restored schooling. The crisis has widened existing inequities, with tribal and rural children most affected by school closures and lack of connectivity. Based on comparisons to past conflicts, we emphasize urgent measures: ensure safe schooling in displacement settings, bridge digital divides, provide counselling, and uphold displaced children’s right to continuous education. By situating Manipur’s crisis against broader development goals, we warn that without intervention, many displaced children risk becoming a “lost generation” in education.
Sapam Rahul Singh, Joyben Okram. The geography of displacement: How the 2023 violence is reshaping educational access and equity. Int J Political Sci Governance 2025;7(12):206-210. DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2025.v7.i12c.795
