Abstract:
Primary education is one of basic rights of each and every child around the world. Access to
quality primary education, however, becomes increasingly challenging in civil war and post war
situations alike. In particular, access to primary education is limited when state lacks proper
plans and strategy toward resettling war displaced people even in their own place of birth
following decades of stay at IDP camps. In Sri Lanka, the northern Muslims, among others,
are the worst victims of civil war between the government and the LTTE and their
vulnerability continues to remain even in the post war period. National security prompted
strategy of resettling northern IDPs, especially those from the District of Mannar, in their
own birth place has contributed to the deprivation of their basic rights including right to
decent schooling. Disconnected from the neighbouring township, semi-militarization, limited
and lack of sources of livelihood and unavailability of proper transport infrastructure and
facilities are such important factors which have direct bearing on the level of access and
enjoyment of decent schooling including primary education. This paper examines the link
between government‟s resettlement (war IDPs) strategy and the quality of primary education
in Sri Lanka's former war zones.
