Rohingya influx leaves Ukhiya, Teknaf schools in disarray

Most educational institutions in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas in Cox’s Bazar are struggling to continue regular classes and tests after the latest influx of Rohingya from Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Many students, teachers and educational institutions from the areas are currently busy helping the newly-arrived refugees, whose numbers crossed 600,000 in just two months. There are about 13,000 students in the upazilas – about 8,000 secondary level students and 5,000 primary students. Of them, candidates of JSC and equal examinations say they are worried as they could not properly prepare for the tests scheduled to start from November 1. Apart from them, students of PSC, SSC, HSC and those studying under the National University told the Dhaka Tribune that they were worried about their education too. On September 30, the Directorate of Secondary and High Secondary Education ordered Cox’s Bazar District Education Office to prepare a report on the situation of the educational institutions in areas where the Rohingya refugees had taken shelter. District Education Officer (acting) Saleh Ahmed Chowdhury said the directorate was informed about the refugee influx hampering educational activities at several institutions of the two upazilas through a report. “We will take steps according to the order of higher authorities,” he said. The report of Cox’s Bazar District Education Office noted that educational activities of 14 secondary and 13 primary schools in Ukhiya and Teknaf were seriously hampered in last two months. Students and parents said curriculum and school activities of the 27 institutions were disrupted during this period. Out of the 27, students of Ukhiya’s Palangkhali High School, Thaingkhali High School, Balukhali High School, Kutupalong High School, Ukhiya Degree College, Bongomata Mahila College, Kutupalong Government Primary School, Ukhiya Girls’ High School, Rajapalong Fazil Madrasa, Abul Kashem Nurjahan Chowdhury High School, Sayeed Alam Dakhil Madrasa, Balukhali Kashimira High School, Tangkhyali High School, Fareer Bill Alim Madrasa, Teknaf’s Alhaj Ali Aasia High School and Shah Parir Dwip Haji Bashir Ahmad High School have been most affected. Ukhiya Degree College is being used as a temporary camp by army personnel. Some of the Rohingya have made makeshift slums on Thaingkahli High School grounds. The Gumdhum Government Primary School, Tumbru Government Primary School, Bhajabunia Government Primary School, Baishpari Government Primary School, Pubo-Pashchimkul Government Primary School, Kutupalong High School, Balukhali Kashemia High School, Thaingkahli Dakhil Madrasa and Balukhali Dakhil Madrasa suspended academic activities for many days due to Rohingya influx. Nazim Uddin, whose daughter is a JSC candidate, said: “I could not send her to school for a month due to transportation crisis after the refugees started coming in. “She resumed school after that but the classes not held regularly for the ongoing problem. Her exam is knocking at the door and I am worried.” Another guardian Jamal Uddin, whose son is a primary school student in Ukhiya, said the administration officials and the law enforcers had set up camps at his son’s school. “No classes were held in the first two weeks after August 25,” he said. Grade four student Mitali Paul said her school was used as shelter home for the refugees for 10 days. “Our classes were suspended during that time.” Directorate of Secondary and High Secondary Education’s Director General Professor SM Wahiduzzaman visited several educational institutions in the upazilas on October 8. A headmaster of a secondary school in Ukhiya said the teachers and students could not come to school because of severe chaos on roads before army deployment. “This affected the curriculum activities,” he told the Dhaka Tribune, declining to be named. “Some institutions are still providing space for army and law enforcement personnel and administrative bodies – who are working on the Rohingya crisis – but such moves hamper educational activities,” the headmaster added.