Kuala Lumpur: The State of Qatar has pledged to fund educational programmes for refugee students in Malaysia as a way of helping them to overcome challenges in access to education due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A joint statement issued by the State of Qatar and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) affirmed that Qatar fund will go towards investment in digital infrastructure to improve education for upper primary and secondary students in refugee learning centres under UNHCR.
The funds will directly benefit at least 1,500 refugee children and youth of all ethnicities as well as 200 teachers in 69 refugee learning centres in Malaysia. As part of the funds, 1,500 tablets and 200 pro tablets with its accessories will be distributed to the learning centres by UNHCR through its education NGO partner, Jaringan Rohingya Education Centre (JREC), the statement said.
“The Government of the State of Qatar via Qatar Charity is committed to supporting much-needed and critical intervention in the area of education during the severe COVID-19 pandemic. This will ensure that refugee students at UNHCR learning centres continue to have access to education during school closures,” said Ambassador of Qatar to Malaysia H E Fahad bin Mohammed Kafoud during a ceremony to hand over some of the tablets to a refugee learning centre.
The Ambassador added, “The Government of the State of Qatar via Qatar Charity is delighted to be able to facilitate access to education, in particular for refugee children. We wish to do our part and put in our best effort to help these highly vulnerable people in this meaningful and sustainable way.”
In addition, the Ambassador expressed deep gratitude to the Government of Malaysia for welcoming the initiatives of the Government of the State of Qatar to assist refugee children and youth to overcome challenges in access to education.
For his part, UNHCR Representative Thomas Albrecht recognised the Government of the State of Qatar via Qatar Charity in this crucial effort of keeping refugee children on track in education, expressing UNHCR's deepest gratitude to Qatar for its unwavering commitment towards refugee protection and assistance.
Providing connectivity and online learning tools such as tablets will enable students to access online learning materials and enable teachers to access tools to deliver lessons from home, Albrecht said.
“UN figures show that 1.6 billion learners across the world, including millions of refugees, have had their education disrupted as a result of COVID-19. While children in every country have struggled with the impact of COVID-19, refugee children have been particularly disadvantaged,” he added.
“Despite the enormous challenges posed by the pandemic, with greater international support to refugees and their host communities, we can expand innovative ways to protect the critical gains made in refugee education over the past years,” he stated.
Moreover, 165 tablets with accessories have also been funded to Kiblah Institute to assist Malaysian students to access the educational system.