Patrick Businge BPhil, BA (Hons), MA

School: College of Social Sciences and International Studies
Department: Graduate School of Education
Research Centre/Unit: Special Educational Needs and Disability

PhD Project Summary

Research title:

Education and disability in conflict-affected and fragile settings (CAFS)

Research aim:

To improve the education of children with disabilities in CAFS

Research abstract:

Emergencies such as armed conflicts exacerbate the condition of children with disabilities. Research continues to show that even in education, children with disabilities experience invisibility, marginalisation, exclusion and discrimination.

Drawing from my professional and personal experience of armed conflict in Africa, I consider improving the wellbeing of all children to be the philosophy and goal of education. Against this assumption, I am researching on the nature and purpose of education for children in CAFS. The overarching question for my study is: how could educational provision for children with disabilities be improved in CAFS?

Answering this question involves taking a constructivist grounded approach to generate data. Arriving at a model for education will comprise of three interlinked stages. The exploratory stage maps out what literature and informants say about the education of children with disabilities in CAFS. The experiential stage entails visiting a setting recovering from armed conflict with the aim of gathering illuminative data on how children with disabilities are educated. The modelling stage involves synthesising all data into a model for education. It is hoped that since undertaking a doctorate is also my personal journey, this study will consolidate my expertise in education in CAFS and enhance my career prospects as a researcher and academic.

Supervisory Team

Dr Hannah Anglin-Jaffe and Professor Brahm Norwich

Wider Research Interests

Equality, wellbeing, disability, rights, teacher professionalism