Refugee children barred from going to local school

Refugee children barred from going to local school
by -
Kaladan Press

Teknaf, Bangladesh: The refugee students are barred from going to local Junior High school by camp security police, said the parents of the student. 

“On August 20, the police inspector Nurul Islam seized books and mobile set from a student while he was returning to the camp after school was over.”

“The student is identified as Abubaker Siddique (16), son of Jalal, MRC No. 01723, shed No. 1127 of Nayapara camp.”

“Parents of the school boy went to the police officer to get return the books and mobile phone, but the police officer does not return it yet. So the school boy is not able to go to school without taking books.”

The refugee boys and girls have no permission to learn in local government schools, the police officer said.

However, about 50 refugee students from Nayapara official camp and Leda (Tal) unofficial camp have been learning in Leda Junior Government High school since last three years ago after passing camp education. However, the students secretly go to school after crossing the rare gate instead of front gate.”

“How the students are mentally demoralized,” said one of the parents of the students.

To get admission in the local school, the UNHCR gave many helps to the school yearly. Regarding the matter, the parents of the students appraised to the UNHCR officials, but the UNHCR official did not come to the camp yet.”

“We are deprived of education in Burma as well as in Bangladesh. Our children have no more education after passing Level- 5 informal education in the camp.”

“We take shelter in Bangladesh for fear of Burma’s authorities’ political and religious persecutions. There is assaying in Burmese, “fear of tiger, we take shelter under the elephant, but the elephant is more cruel than tiger,” said a school teacher from the camp.