Muslim refugee children in Bangladesh to be taught with Myanmar curriculum

By Admin 26 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
26 July 2023, Sittwe

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that Muslim refugee children in Bangladesh will be taught up to Grade 10 using the Myanmar curriculum for this academic year.

Since 2021, the children have been tested and taught from Grade-3 to Grade-5 according to the Myanmar curriculum. This year, a record number of 300,000 students from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar have been enrolled, according to a UNICEF statement.

“The most important thing for these children to return to Myanmar safely and with dignity is to be able to continue their education while they are in Bangladesh,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh.

About half of the Muslim refugees who fled to Bangladesh from Arakan State in 2017 were children. Since then, most have lost their right to education, and those who have received middle and high school educations are teaching children in refugee camps.

“There are many people who can’t even write their own names and can’t even read. I am happy that these children have the opportunity to get an education,” said U Aung Win from Kutipalong.

“This new generation has lost the opportunity to learn the Myanmar curriculum. People who can read a little are teaching people who can’t read. Now, teachers who have completed the 10th grade will show the children one language at a time,” said a Muslim refugee man from Kutupalong refugee camp.

Some 700,000 Muslims fled to Bangladesh during and following the Myanmar military’s counterinsurgency operations in response to attacks on police outposts in Maungdaw in 2017. The regime says it is working to take back an initial 1,000 Muslims to Myanmar.