By: RO Maung Shwe
Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazar – June 2025
In the dusty alleyways of Camp-8W, ten-year-old Asmot Ullah once walked to school each morning holding a book bag nearly his own size. “I want to learn about rights,” he said just weeks ago. “If we know our rights, we can change things—like Bangladeshi students once did during their Liberation War.”
Now, Asmot’s classroom is locked. His teachers are gone. And his dreams are on hold.
From Hope to Uncertainty
On May 27, UNICEF formally notified partner organizations that its education program in the Rohingya camps would be indefinitely suspended due to severe funding shortages. The closure affects all learning centres it supports, and with them, more than 1,179 volunteer teachers—most of whom come from the already-struggling host communities.
For students like Asmot, this means more than just an interruption in routine. It’s the disappearance of one of the few safe, structured, and emotionally supportive spaces available in the camps.
Children Speak: “If School Stays Closed, I May Never Go Back”
Suhana Akter, 12, has been studying at a UNICEF-supported MCP school in Camp-6 since 2018. “I love Science because I actually understand it,” she says. “But now they’re saying our school might close. If it’s shut for too long, my family won’t let me return—they’ll say I’m too old, or I have to help at home.”
Her story is not unique. Rohingya parents, pressured by poverty and lacking formal livelihood options, often withdraw their children—especially girls—when schooling becomes irregular.
The Host Community Feels the Shock
Mr. Saiful Hoque, an English teacher from the host community, has been working in a learning centre since 2019. “I supported the Rohingyas when they first arrived—gave up farmland, provided shelter. But now, our own families are in crisis.”
He earned 15,500 Taka per month—barely enough for a five-member household. “This was our only income,” he adds. “Now we are being discarded without any plan.”
The protests by host teachers—calling for better support and equal treatment—sparked controversy, ultimately contributing to UNICEF’s decision to suspend the program altogether. While their frustrations are real, the consequences have spilled over into an entire refugee generation.
What the Decision Involves
The suspension includes:
- Termination of all Kindergarten–Grade 2 volunteer educators
- Closure of all learning centres from June 6 to June 29, with no guaranteed reopening
- Removal of English, Science, and Social Studies from the early-grade curriculum starting 2025–26
- A freeze on hiring new Rohingya volunteers
- Cancellation of final assessments, placement tests, and textbook procurements
UNICEF will offer final incentive payments through June 30. After that, no more reimbursements will be issued.
Risk of Irreversible Loss
Without education, the risk of long-term harm is immense. Aid agencies fear a rise in:
- Child labour, as children are pulled into informal work
- Early marriage, especially for girls
- Radicalization, in an environment devoid of stability or future prospects
“During COVID-19, we saw how education loss damaged children emotionally and academically,” says one education expert. “This time, it could be permanent.”
Voices from the Rohingya Community
Many Rohingya community leaders are outraged.
“How can you remove subjects like English and Social Studies?” asks Mayyu Foyajul, a community educator and poet. “Social Studies helps us know who we are. Do our children not deserve that?”
Soyed Amin, another respected figure, adds:
“We understand budget cuts. But why stop everything? Why not let Burmese-trained teachers continue classes until funding arrives? This decision silences a generation.”
A Community Caught in the Crossfire
UNICEF has stated that the decision was unavoidable, due to a dramatic drop in humanitarian funding globally. In a statement, Angela Kearney, Acting Chief of Field Office in Cox’s Bazar, wrote:
“We understand how painful this is. Our own education team is also being reduced. We thank you for your efforts to reduce costs.”
But for many, gratitude offers little comfort.
Conclusion: What’s at Stake
As of now, more than 230,000 Rohingya children are left without formal education. Some roam the camps. Others help their parents gather firewood or fetch water. Many sit idle, their minds unstretched and their dreams slowly fading.
If the closures stretch on, experts fear a mass dropout, particularly among girls and children with disabilities. And without emergency intervention, the long-term impact will not be limited to academics—it will touch every aspect of community health, resilience, and identity.
For the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar, this is not just a pause in education. It is the dimming of hope.
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