Frontline teaching: The role of educators in warzones

Frontline teaching: The role of educators in warzones

From Research and Reason by Faculty of Arts and Education, University of Auckland

June 3, 2026 · 29 min · Season 6 · Episode 5

About this episode

Dr Ritesh Shah discusses the role of educators in warzones, focusing on the situation in Gaza following the recent conflict.

Dr Ritesh Shah specialises in education in conflict and disaster zones and the politics of foreign aid. He sits down with our media adviser Julianne Evans to discuss his work with the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies (CAPRS), including their latest project: giving voices to the teachers on the frontline in Gaza. The research will help document the experiences of educators - including parents and volunteers - who have continued to teach since the Hamas attack on Israel (7 October 2023) and through the attacks on Gaza by Israel since. Read more about Dr Shah's work here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2026/03/09/caught-in-the-crossfire-education-in-gaza.html Refugee Week runs from 15-21 June.

People in this episode

Host: Julianne Evans

Guest: Dr Ritesh Shah

Topics covered

  • education in conflict
  • teachers in warzones
  • foreign aid politics
  • Gaza education
  • refugee studies

Keywords

  • education
  • conflict zones
  • Gaza
  • teachers
  • foreign aid
  • refugees
  • Hamas
  • Israel

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies

Places: Gaza, Israel

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