Only three percent of school-aged Rohingya girls living in refugee camps in Bangladesh are receiving an education, according to a stark new report from the Burma Task Force, part of the U.S. and Canada-based human rights organization Justice for All.
The findings of the survey were presented at a press conference in Dhaka on Tuesday (November 4).
The report highlights a massive gender gap in education. While girls constitute 52% of all Rohingya children in the camps, the vast majority are being left behind, prompting an urgent call for a "consolidated, recognized, and inclusive education framework."
Abdul Malik Mujahid, President of Justice for All and Chairman of the Burma Task Force, presented the findings. While praising the "unprecedented humanity" of the Bangladeshi government and its people toward the refugees, Mujahid emphasized the need for a long-term solution. "Securing their future now requires ensuring a sustainable education system," he stated.

The organization submitted three key recommendations to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government. These included the adoption of a national policy for Rohingya education, the establishment of a recognized certification system for students, and the creation of opportunities for Muslim charitable organizations to participate in funding and operations.
Mujahid noted that this third point could unlock significant resources, stating the organization aims to help channel support from the U.S. Muslim community, which donates over $4 billion annually to charitable causes.
The report's release is set against the backdrop of a severe funding crisis for refugee services. The Burma Task Force highlighted that UNICEF and Save the Children have recently announced the closure of 6,400 learning centers due to budget cuts, a move that will affect approximately 300,000 Rohingya children.
According to the report, 2,789 centers have already been shuttered, leaving 159,000 children out of school and 4,914 volunteer teachers unemployed.
"The education of Rohingya children is not only a humanitarian duty but a security investment," said Nadine Maenza, former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), who spoke at the event. "An uneducated generation will only increase dependency and instability."
Richard Reoch, a former spokesperson for Amnesty International, described education as a "lifeline" for the young survivors of genocide. "It is their mental reconstruction and their passport to a new life," he said.
The survey was conducted in November and December 2024, based on interviews with 1,000 Rohingya women, teachers, and administrators, as well as school visits in camps including Kutupalong.

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