UNICEF Warns Education of 230,000 Rohingya children at risk

UNICEF Warns Education of 230,000 Rohingya children at risk
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Around 230,000 Rohingya children in Bangladesh face an education crisis due to a severe funding shortfall, UNICEF has warned. The agency stated that without urgent and sustained financial support, critical learning opportunities in the world’s largest Rohingya settlement could be lost.

UNICEF reported a sharp decline in humanitarian funding for its Rohingya response, impacting 83% of school-age children enrolled in UNICEF-supported learning centers. Funding gaps have led to the suspension of support for 1,179 host community volunteer teachers working with Kindergarten to Class II learners, whose contracts will end by June 30, 2025.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF’s Bangladesh Representative, noted that although some funds have been secured, delays mean learning facilities will remain closed until at least the end of June 2025. Early grade learners will only receive instruction in core subjects such as literacy (Rohingya), Burmese, mathematics, life skills, and socio-emotional learning. No new textbooks will be purchased, and assessments have been cancelled. Volunteer teachers may continue unpaid until funding is restored.