UNICEF to set up 1300 schools for Rohingya refugees

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) would set up more than 1,300 new learning centres for Rohingya children who have fled from Myanmar to the country's Southeast part.

The humanitarian organisation is currently running 182 learning centres in Rohingya camps and makeshift settlements in Cox's Bazar and has enrolled 15,000 children, said a press release on Friday.

They also plans to increase the number of learning centres to 1,500, to reach 200,000 children over the next year, the release said.

UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, Edouard Beigbeder said, "It is critical that these children, who have suffered so much in this crisis should have access to education in a safe and nurturing environment."

"This is critical to provide them with a much-needed sense of normalcy now, so that they can build a future," he added.

The learning centres are providing early education to 4 to 6 year children and non-formal basic education to 6 to 14 year children. In each learning centre there are three shifts, with each shift comprising of 35 children.

Children learn Bengali, English, Math, Burmese, Science and Arts in the learning centres. Children also receive psychosocial counselling, and are taught hygiene and life skills. The children are given books, pens, colouring pencils, school bags and other educational materials.

Over a quarter of a million Rohingya children have fled Myanmar into Cox's Bazar since August 25, according to BSS.