Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
A Rohingya student has achieved a remarkable academic milestone in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, after securing first place in the mid-term examination among more than 70 schools operating inside the camps.
The student, Mujibur Rahman, originally lived in Kyet Yu Bin village, north of Maungdaw Township in Arakan (Rakhine) State. He fled Myanmar with his family in 2017 following violence carried out by the Myanmar military (the ruling military junta) and later settled in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar.
After arriving in the camps, Mujibur continued his education at Camp 06 at Rohingya Ideal Private High School (RIP), where he is currently a Grade 12 student.
Educational sources inside the camps told Arakan News Agency that the Rohingya Examination Board organized the mid-term examination last October, with students from more than 70 schools participating. Mujibur ranked first overall, scoring 463 marks.
The student follows a disciplined study routine that combines regular school attendance, individual study, and group study sessions in the evenings, while continuously preparing for the final examinations, despite the difficult living conditions faced by refugees.
Mujibur said that many students possess strong academic potential, but harsh living conditions and family responsibilities prevent some from fully dedicating themselves to their studies. He emphasized that education remains the most important hope for Rohingya youth in building a better future.
In a related context, Mr. Mohammed Tarak, Principal of Rohingya Ideal Private High School, said that education continues to prove its ability to make a real difference inside the refugee camps, despite the severe challenges faced by the Rohingya community for years.
Tarak, who is originally from Bora Shida Para village, north of Maungdaw Township in Arakan State, said he has been living in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh since 2017 following his forced displacement. He added that he completed his university education at Sittwe University, specializing in Mathematics.
The principal confirmed that Mujibur Rahman scored 463 out of 600, ranking first among all participating schools, describing the achievement as “a great source of pride for the school and the entire Rohingya community, and clear evidence of what dedication and proper guidance can achieve.”
He noted that the mid-term exam is part of a reactivated examination system that had been suspended for nearly eight years, pointing out that some students who did not pass are still adjusting to the new system.
Tarak also stressed the importance of night study and discipline, especially amid risks faced by some youths in the camps, including involvement in harmful activities such as gambling.
Despite near-total dependence on humanitarian aid, the education sector inside the camps faces major challenges, including lack of funding, weak infrastructure, and the absence of official recognition for academic certificates.
Humanitarian organizations and local initiatives in the camps are working to provide non-formal primary and secondary education, focusing on literacy, mathematics, science, and languages, alongside child protection programs.
Education in the camps is viewed not only as a means of learning, but also as a tool for psychological and social protection, preventing child labor and early marriage, and preserving hope among young people in the absence of clear political solutions.
This achievement comes at a time when more than one million Rohingya refugees are living in the camps of Cox’s Bazar amid serious challenges in education and basic services, yet such success stories reflect the determination of Rohingya students to pursue education despite life in exile.
