Where did our small little angel go?

By: Adibah Zakaria

School started as usual. The kids get up early and race to their respective classes because they are excited to meet the teachers, friends and learn new things. They are doing just fine. Enjoying every session of the class like our little brothers and sisters. As they grow up, it worries the teachers that high chances that some of the boys need to start working and the girls will prone to child marriage.

What makes the boys need to stop going to school? Why do they have to start working illegally at a very small age? Because of poor living conditions, the boys (at a very young age!) took the responsibility to earn money for their families. What type of jobs they can do? They probably will wash dishes at the restaurant, a cleaner or work at a small shop, cause obviously they can’t do much due to lack of skills and being physically unfit, which later will lead to being underpaid. Was it enough to survive? No! Most of the Rohingya’s kids were born in a big nuclear family and every penny means a lot to them, especially to buy groceries, paying the utilities and rent.

Every teacher in Sekolah Islamiyah would love to see the growth of their students and they knew some of the kids have a high potential to go beyond where they are right now. The teachers want to indoctrinate how important education is for their future, but the message wouldn’t go through if there is no support from the family and the community. Even if we started giving free education—no tuition, fees and all necessities such as uniforms and books the boy might have the tendency to continue their study, but somehow the responsibility to their family comes first. We can’t blame our kids cause the majority of the Rohingya parents often consider education to be of secondary importance compared to having a job.

Quality education shall empower our kids to be able to survive in this challenging world. Thus, we should stop generalizing Rohingya refugees. If you’re an employer, stop under-pay them. If you’re the house owner, stop overcharging them. If you’re a student, be one of the volunteers with any NGOs or community-based schools that provide support to the refugee’s community so that you can understand their situation better. As one community, let’s work towards a better nation!

**This article is personal opionion of the writer and does not represent Sekolah Islamiyah as a whole.