Rohingya children face deepening education crisis in Bangladesh, warns HRW

A sharp decline in international aid has deepened the education crisis facing nearly half a million Rohingya children living in refugee camps in Bangladesh, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Thousands of learning centres operated by humanitarian organisations have closed in recent months, after major donors—including the United States—cut back funding. On 3 June, UNICEF suspended support for many of these facilities due to budget shortfalls, leaving more than 300,000 school-aged children without formal education.

With most formal programmes defunded, the only remaining educational options are community-led schools established by Rohingya refugees themselves. Although widely regarded as providing higher-quality instruction, these schools receive no state recognition or international support. They rely on small tuition fees—between 50 cents and $5 per month—which many families cannot afford.

“The US and other donor governments are abandoning education for Rohingya children, after the previous Bangladesh government long blocked it,” said Bill Van Esveld, associate children’s rights director at HRW.

“The interim government must support inclusive education, while donors should back Rohingya-led initiatives to prevent a lost generation.”

In interviews with more than 75 people—including students, teachers, and aid workers—HRW found mounting concern over the risks facing children as education options disappear. Between January and March 2025, at least 51 child abductions were reported in the camps in Cox’s Bazar, raising fears about trafficking, forced labour, and other forms of exploitation.

While many community-led schools are staffed by Rohingya who have completed secondary education, the lack of formal certification remains a major obstacle. Students fear that even if they finish upper-secondary studies, their qualifications will not be officially recognised.

HRW has urged Bangladesh’s interim government to formally recognise the Rohingya-led schools and called on donors to provide funding. The rights group also stressed the importance of including Rohingya educators in decision-making and policy planning.

Rohingya children are currently prohibited from enrolling in schools outside the camps—a policy HRW argues is in breach of international human rights laws, which guarantee access to education without discrimination.

“Education is a lifeline for refugee children,” Van Esveld said. “It’s time for Bangladesh and its partners to support that right—not obstruct it.”