A Dhaka-based NGO with the support from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, will officially inaugurate the first two-storied prefabricated learning centre in Kutupalong camp today, aiming at creating more space and educational opportunities for refugee youngsters to be able to learn. 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 Temporary Learning Centre within the physical space, said a UNHCR press release.   

The design was created by two associate professors at BRAC University’s architecture department, using local materials and technology. Across 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 between 3-14 years without any access to education, and more than 97 per cent of 15-24 year olds not attending any educational facilities.

Dr Safiqul Islam, director of BRAC’s education programme, said, “The two-storied design combats the space crisis in the camps.  The culturally-sensitive design allows for a more learning enabling environment to ensure higher quality education. It is environment-friendly, and its construction and operation will not cause any further damage to the environment. The prefabricated building is designed in such a way that can be modified and relocated at any time”.

UNHCR’s education officer, James Onyango, said, “This is a creative and innovative way to tackle one major problem we are facing in the camps – inadequate physical space to guarantee access to educational opportunities for youngsters”.  The pilot project brings to 39 the number of TLC’s that UNHCR has established with BRAC in 20 different locations in Camp 4 and 17 since May 2018.