Support Education

Education is one of the most urgent long-term needs of the Rohingya people. For decades, Rohingya children and young people have faced severe restrictions on access to schools, universities and professional training. Persecution, statelessness, displacement, poverty and restrictions on movement have repeatedly interrupted education and prevented many students from progressing through a normal academic pathway.

Today, many Rohingya children and youth still do not have reliable access to stable, accredited formal education. In refugee settings, learning opportunities may be limited, interrupted or dependent on humanitarian funding. Inside Myanmar, Rohingya communities have historically faced restrictions that have affected movement, higher education and access to public services. The result is a serious danger that an entire generation could grow up without the education, recognised qualifications and professional opportunities needed to build independent lives and contribute fully to their community.

A generation at risk of being left behind

A prolonged education gap has consequences far beyond the classroom. Children who miss years of schooling can find it extremely difficult to return to education later. Young people who complete basic learning but cannot access secondary or higher education may remain trapped without recognised qualifications. For refugee youth, the transition from school to university is particularly difficult because documentation, language, finances, admission rules and legal status can all become barriers.

When educational pathways disappear, communities lose future teachers, doctors, engineers, researchers, lawyers, administrators, journalists and other professionals. The damage is therefore both individual and collective. A generation without education is a generation deprived of choices, while the community loses the skills and leadership needed for recovery, representation and long-term development.

Why education must be protected

Education is a fundamental right and one of the strongest foundations for dignity, resilience and self-reliance. It gives young people the ability to understand the world around them, participate in society, defend their rights and develop the skills required for employment and leadership. It can also reduce vulnerability to exploitation, trafficking, child labour, early marriage and recruitment into harmful activities.

For displaced and stateless communities, education also preserves hope. A child who can continue learning has a stronger possibility of imagining a future beyond the limitations of a refugee camp or a discriminatory system. A student who reaches university can become a source of knowledge and opportunity for many others.

Higher education and scholarship pathways

Access to university remains especially difficult for refugees around the world. Rohingya students face additional barriers arising from statelessness, documentation problems, displacement and limited financial resources. Scholarship programmes, university partnerships, tuition support, language preparation, mentoring and flexible admission pathways can therefore make a decisive difference.

ERC has experience facilitating educational and scholarship opportunities for Rohingya students, including cooperation with Türkiye Scholarships / YTB. Such cooperation demonstrates what can be achieved when institutions create credible pathways and when students receive guidance in navigating complex application processes.

How institutions can help

Universities can consider dedicated scholarship places, tuition waivers, preparatory programmes, remote learning, language support and flexible documentation requirements where appropriate. Foundations and donors can support scholarships, academic materials, examination fees, digital access and living costs. Professional organisations can offer mentoring, internships and career guidance. Researchers and educational specialists can help document barriers and design programmes that respond to the real needs of Rohingya learners.

Support should not be limited only to the highest-achieving students. Different forms of education are needed for different stages of life, including basic education, secondary education, vocational and technical training, university study, professional certification and adult learning. Girls and young women, students with disabilities and learners who have missed years of schooling may require additional support to enter or return to education.

Quality, recognition and continuity

Learning opportunities must be meaningful. Temporary classes can provide important support, but young people also need pathways that lead to recognised qualifications and further study. Education programmes should therefore aim for continuity, quality and recognition wherever possible. Students should be able to see a clear route from one stage of learning to the next rather than repeatedly reaching dead ends.

Digital education can expand access, but it cannot solve every problem by itself. Reliable internet, devices, electricity, language support, accreditation and academic guidance are all important. Online learning is most useful when it forms part of a wider pathway toward recognised education and employment.

Investing in the future of the Rohingya people

Supporting Rohingya education is not simply an act of charity. It is an investment in a community that has been systematically denied opportunities for generations. Educated young people can strengthen community institutions, contribute to host societies, participate in international advocacy and help rebuild the social and professional capacity that persecution and displacement have attempted to destroy.

ERC encourages educational institutions, scholarship providers, foundations, professionals and individual supporters to work with us to expand credible opportunities. Every new pathway to education helps prevent the loss of another generation and strengthens the possibility of a future built on knowledge, dignity and equal rights.