By Hafizur Rahman, Camp Crosspendant
October 2, 2025
A historic milestone is unfolding in the world’s largest refugee settlement. For the first time, Rohingya refugee students in community-led high schools are sitting for mid-term examinations under a structured board system, similar to national standards in Bangladesh.
The six-day examination, held over two consecutive weekends, may appear routine elsewhere. But for more than 2,500 young learners, it represents dignity, opportunity, and the struggle for equal rights to education inside the refugee camps.
Despite chronic funding shortages, Rohingya educators and volunteers have pressed forward, determined to ensure learning continues against all odds. Parents, teachers, and students alike worked tirelessly to make this day possible.
The examinations officially began today (Thursday) from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, with systematic seating arrangements across the camps. In its first round, the Exam Board Committee decided to include only Grade 12 students, marking a significant step toward building an organized education system for Rohingya refugees.
Ro Khin Maung, also known as Mohammed Rofique, Convenor of the Examination Board of Rohingya Refugees, explained:
“The purpose of the mid-term examination is to ensure quality education for our students. We have been planning this since last year. There are more than 75 community-led high schools under this Board. We do not conduct exams for every class, but focus on Grade Five, Grade Nine, and Grade Twelve, following the Myanmar system. This year, more than 2,500 students are sitting under our Board.”
Before the exams began, nervous excitement was visible among the students. Many expressed determination to succeed despite the daily hardships of camp life.
Anowar, a Grade 12 student, said: “I studied very hard for this. It feels like a big responsibility because this is the first time we are sitting for an exam like this. I want to make my parents proud.”
Another student, 20-year-old Abul Alom of Rohingya Ideal Private School, shared: “I have fully prepared for the exam. I am nervous but also excited. This exam gives me hope that one day I can continue my studies outside the camp and build a better future — if I get the opportunity.”
Fayazul Alam, Vice-Chairman of the Exam Board Committee, said the initiative is a turning point for both academics and dignity:
“The students worked hard, and their teachers supported them to make this possible. By starting board-based exams, we are preparing our youth for the future and showing the world that Rohingya students are ready for opportunities if given the chance.”
As the first day ended, students completed their Burmese subject exam. Relief and hope filled the classrooms. Mohammed Ediris, a Grade 9 student, reflected:
“The questions were difficult, but I tried my best. Today, I feel like I am not just a refugee — I am a student with dreams, just like any other student anywhere.”
For the Rohingya community, these examinations are more than an academic exercise. They are a beacon of hope for an entire generation striving for dignity, opportunity, and a future beyond displacement.
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