Educating Rohingya Children and Youth in Emergencies

Abstract

Rohingyas have been subjected to genocide, and their children have been systematically deprived of basic to tertiary education since 1982. Now that 1.3 million of them have taken refuge in Bangladesh, of which approximately half of them are children, they are receiving education again. Education in the camps is being delivered through formal and informal channels. In addition, while the young children between the ages of 4-8 receive some education, the adolescents are left out. At present, Rohingya children face a two-fold problem (lack of progressive education and access). In this context, this chapter draws key conceptual frames mostly from International Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) members' works. The findings shared in this chapter were drawn from a qualitative research that was conducted for a book project by the author in February 2018 and April 2019 in Bangladesh. The chapter contains the genesis of education in emergencies, Rohingya children and youth situation and challenges in the education sector, and the need for multicultural education for Rohingya children and youth.