BM Desk : The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has ended contracts with 1,179 local teachers who were involved in educating Rohingya children in Cox’s Bazar, citing a global “crisis” in humanitarian funding. In a statement released on Tuesday, the organization remarked: “The global shortfall in humanitarian aid funding has compelled us to make some tough choices, as reported on media.

“As part of this, contracts with 1,179 members of the host community who served as teachers in kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 for Rohingya children are being terminated through UNICEF partners.”

The agency noted that among those impacted are teachers of English, science, social science, and art.

“Following Eid and the subsequent holidays [until 29 June], the return of remaining staff from both the Rohingya and host communities will be entirely contingent on the availability of new funding,” it continued.

“To maintain our ongoing programs, provide urgent assistance to the most vulnerable children, and fulfill our commitment to children’s well-being during this extremely challenging period, we have had to make these decisions,” the statement indicated.

“We remain optimistic that with additional funding, we will be able to reinstate these vital services and even broaden them.”

Angela Kearney, head of UNICEF’s Cox’s Bazar, stated on Monday: “Learning centers will stay closed at least until the end of June. Whether they reopen will depend on new funding.

“If educational activities resume, local-level Grade 1 and Grade 2 teachers — who are Bangladeshi nationals — will no longer be kept on.”

The announcement of the closure has sparked several days of protests by local teachers in Ukhiya, who have blocked roads and disrupted the movement of vehicles operated by aid organizations.

They contend that local workers are being dismissed while employment for the Rohingya persists, further disadvantaging an already vulnerable host community.

One of the protest leaders, Saffat Fardin Chowdhury, stated: “Ukhiya is not a free-for-all area where decisions can be made at will. We won’t give up if host community instructors are unfairly removed.Everything has funding, so why not the host community as well? This game has to end.
In response to claims of prejudice, Kearney stated: “This situation is free of bias. Funding difficulties are the only factor influencing this decision.

Over 3,000 volunteer teachers from Bangladesh are employed by us. Only students in Grades 1 and 2 are impacted, she continued.