Gene Sperling, Ishmael Beah and Nicholas Kristof among
participantsNEW YORK, 22 October 2007 – UNICEF launched today
the first in a series of podcast discussions on education in
emergencies and post-crisis transition countries, with the
participation of leading figures from the academic, development,
media and humanitarian communities. Entitled 'Beyond School
Books', the podcast series highlights the important role of
education in countries affected by conflicts or natural
disasters or those in post-crisis transition. “Anyone who
listens to these broadcasts will have a profound understanding
of why education is so critical in emergency and post-crisis
situations, and yet why it is so challenging to provide,” said
Cream Wright, UNICEF’s Global Chief of Education. Some of the
thought-provoking questions that participants will debate
include: What steps may be put into place, post-crisis, not only
to provide education services to affected populations, but also
to rebuild educational systems? What role can donors