1st learning centre for Rohingya children opens today

BRAC, with the support from UNHCR and the UN Refugee Agency, will officially inaugurate the first two-storied temporary learning centre (TLC) in Kutupalong camp today (Wednesday), reports UNB.

The aim is to create more space and educational opportunities for Rohingya youngsters.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam, Joint Secretary (Development) at the Bangladesh Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Nesar Ahmed, acting Head of Operations and Sub office for UNHCR in Cox's Bazar Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, and head of BRAC Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme Mohammed Abdus Salam will attend the programme.

The eye-catching building, painted bright red and yellow, will be able to house up to 240 students studying in two classrooms in three shifts each day - double the number of students who could normally attend a TLC within the physical space.

The design was created by two associate professors at BRAC University's architecture department, using local materials and technology, UNHCR said on Tuesday.

Across all the refugee settlements in Cox's Bazar, there are 540,000 children of school age (aged 3-24 years old) but only 160,552 have spaces in temporary learning centres, leaving a gap of 47 per cent of youngsters aged 3-14 years old without any access to education, and more than 97 per cent of 15 to 24- year- old not attending any educational facilities.