New Delhi: In the Kalindi Kunj settlement, 12-year-old Umar Habiba finally walks to school carrying new textbooks after months of effort. Her admission into an MCD primary school was possible only with the support of the UNHCR, which guided her family through the enrollment process. For many Rohingya children in India, however, the right to education remains a daily battle.
In December 2024, the Delhi government ordered that schools should not admit Rohingya children, further worsening their plight. “The school staff would ask for Aadhaar and birth certificates. They said the UNHCR card does not count,” said Noor Ayesha, Habiba’s mother. The situation changed when the Supreme Court, in February 2025, ruled that no child should be denied education on grounds of national security.
Although admissions have resumed, children continue to face humiliation and exclusion. “We are not allowed in competitions. Teachers label us as Rohingya in front of the class,” said Shabana, a student at a government girls’ school. Her brother, a class 9 student, added that girls face even more discrimination because of both gender and identity.
Some children turn to tuition centers run by NGOs such as the Mariwala Health Initiative, which provide safe spaces, learning materials, and skills training. Despite these efforts, insecurity overshadows daily life. Mariya, a class 6 student, said she fears using open fields as toilets near a cremation ground. Families also worry about detention, deportation, or attacks on their shelters.
For many Rohingya families who arrived in India seeking safety, education is now tied to survival in an environment marked by uncertainty and fear.
