By: Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, June 4, 2025
In a major blow to early-grade education in the Rohingya refugee camps, UNICEF has terminated contracts for 1,179 Bangladeshi teachers working in learning centres across Ukhiya and Teknaf. The decision, announced on Tuesday, is the result of a worsening global humanitarian funding crisis, which UNICEF says has forced the agency to make “difficult decisions.”
The terminated teachers were primarily engaged in teaching kindergarten to Grade 2 Rohingya children, covering subjects such as English, science, social studies, and art, through UNICEF’s implementing partners.
“Contracts with 1,179 members of the host community… are being discontinued,” UNICEF stated. “The return of remaining staff will depend entirely on the availability of new funding after Eid holidays end on June 29.”
Learning Centres Closed, Future Uncertain
According to Angela Kearney, UNICEF’s head in Cox’s Bazar, all learning centres will remain closed until at least the end of June. Even if education activities resume, Grade 1 and Grade 2 classes led by Bangladeshi national teachers will not continue under current funding constraints.
“There’s no bias here,” Kearney said. “This is a funding-driven decision. We still have more than 3,000 Bangladeshi volunteer teachers working across different levels.”
Protests Erupt in Ukhiya
The decision has sparked anger and street protests in Ukhiya, where many of the affected teachers reside. Protesters have blocked roads and disrupted humanitarian vehicles, accusing UNICEF of sidelining the host community in favor of refugee-focused programming.
“Ukhiya is not a free-for-all zone,” said protest leader Saffat Fardin Chowdhury. “If host community teachers are removed unjustly, we will resist. There’s always money for everything—but never for us.”
The protesters claim that local livelihoods are being sacrificed while aid continues to flow into other sectors. Some have demanded that no Rohingya education program proceed without the involvement of local Bangladeshi teachers.
Children Caught in the Crossfire
This funding crisis threatens not just jobs, but the education of over 250,000 Rohingya children who rely on the learning centres. With schooling already disrupted by infrastructure issues, displacement, and trauma, this latest development risks further deepening the educational void.
Humanitarian agencies warn that education is a core protection tool for displaced children—and without it, child marriage, exploitation, and long-term hopelessness may rise sharply.
A Call for Urgent Support
UNICEF and other humanitarian actors are appealing to international donors to urgently replenish the education sector’s budget under the 2025 Joint Response Plan (JRP). The plan seeks $934 million to support 1.48 million Rohingya and Bangladeshi beneficiaries, but as of June, it remains less than 20% funded.
Until new funding is secured, the future of both Rohingya children’s education and host community livelihoods hangs in the balance.
“This is not just about jobs or lessons—it’s about the soul of this humanitarian response,” said a Rohingya community educator. “Children are paying the price for donor fatigue.”
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