Salim Al-Arakani, Executive Director of the Arakan Humanitarian Association, has warned of a growing education gap affecting Rohingya children living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
The warning came during an analytical presentation delivered at the Second International Conference on Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Education in Emergencies and Crises, held in Istanbul last week. The conference was organized by the ALES Foundation and hosted by Istanbul Gelisim University.
Al-Arakani said that more than 500,000 Rohingya children lack access to formal education inside the refugee camps, while the illiteracy rate is estimated to be between 77% and 80%.
He explained that the seriousness of the education crisis is not only related to shortages in resources and infrastructure, but also to the fragility of an education system that remains heavily dependent on temporary humanitarian assistance.
He noted that approximately 230,000 children were at risk of losing access to education in May 2025 alone, as a result of funding shortages and repeated disruptions to humanitarian aid.
Field Assessment Reveals Serious Challenges
The presentation drew on the findings of a field assessment covering 35 educational facilities in Rohingya refugee camps.
The assessment found that the quality of education in several facilities fell below minimum standards due to overcrowded classrooms, shortages of educational materials and curricula, lack of electricity, and limited access to teaching tools and technology.
It also revealed a significant gap in educational opportunities for adolescent girls, caused by a shortage of safe learning environments, insufficient numbers of female teachers, and inadequate educational facilities and resources.
Three Recommendations to Improve Rohingya Education
The Executive Director of the Arakan Humanitarian Association presented three strategic recommendations aimed at improving education for Rohingya children.
The first recommendation focuses on protecting the existing education system by safeguarding education budgets, providing essential learning materials, and ensuring stable incentives and financial support for teachers.
The second recommendation calls for improving the quality of education by introducing continuous professional development programs for teachers and expanding the use of digital education tools and emergency-learning technologies.
The third recommendation focuses on reforming the overall education pathway by gradually moving away from the model of temporary “learning centres” toward integrated and recognized education pathways.
Such a system would help ensure official recognition of educational qualifications and allow students to progress into secondary, higher, and vocational education.
Education as Protection for Rohingya Children
Concluding his presentation, Al-Arakani raised a critical question:
“How many children have been able to reach a real future after leaving the classroom?”
He stressed that education represents a fundamental investment in protecting children from forced labour, early marriage, exploitation, and other risks, while also safeguarding the dignity and future of entire generations.
The Second International Conference on Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Education in Emergencies and Crises aims to mobilize regional and international efforts to develop sustainable digital and financial solutions for more than 75 million children worldwide who have been deprived of education because of conflicts and crises.
