Rohingya National Education Board (RNEB)

The Rohingya National Education Board (RNEB) is a non-profit, community-led educational institution established to ensure access to quality, inclusive, and culturally relevant education for the Rohingya people. The Board was formed to address long-standing educational gaps faced by the Rohingya community, particularly in situations of displacement, statelessness, and limited access to formal education systems.

RNEB is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Rohingya mother language while strengthening foundational education, moral values, and essential life skills. The Board develops standardized curricula, textbooks, and teaching methodologies that align with community needs and international educational standards where applicable.

The Board also conducts academic assessments, examinations, and certification for students and teachers, while implementing teacher training and professional development programs to enhance educational quality. Through coordination with educators, community leaders, and partner organizations, RNEB works to ensure accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement in educational delivery.

Guided by the principles of equity, dignity, unity, and sustainability, the Rohingya National Education Board strives to empower future generations through education, protect cultural identity, and contribute to the long-term educational and social development of the Rohingya community.

• Journey of the Rohingya National Education Board: Safeguarding Identity Through Language.

In a world where language is the soul of culture and identity, the Rohingya National Education Board (RNEB) stands as a beacon of hope for one of the most persecuted and voiceless communities on earth. Established in 2017 under the visionary leadership of the late Maulana Faruk, the board was formed with a single, powerful mission: to preserve, protect, and promote the Rohingya language (Hanifi script) and culture for generations to come.

• The Birth of a Movement:

Every nation, every ethnic group, has an educational board to shape and guide its learning journey. We Rohingya people, despite decades of marginalization and statelessness, are no different in our desire for cultural survival. Thus, the Rohingya National Education Board (RNEB) was born not under the shelter of any government, but from the heart of a people fighting to preserve our identity.

The late Maulana Faruk, who lived in Saudi Arabia, recognized the threat facing our language, once passed down through generations, now at risk of vanishing in silence. He believed that just as language defines identity, its loss threatens the very existence of a people. Sadly, Maulana Faruk passed away in 2024, but his dream lives on. 

• A Language Rooted in History:

Our Rohingya language ( Hinifi Script), enriched by its unique script, Hanifi, is more than just a means of communication. It is a symbol of history, resilience, and belonging. The script itself was rediscovered by the late Mufti Maulana Hanif Rageb Sahab and his companions from stone between 1968 and 1983 in the Maruk U ( Fattor Killah) region of Arakan (Rakhine), Myanmar.

While most ethnic groups in Myanmar and across the globe have recognized linguistic systems, we Rohingya have long been denied such acknowledgment. We at RNEB are now filling that void by revitalizing our language across generations, from children to elders, through structured education and community engagement.

Independent and Self-Funded:

We operate independently without any affiliations to governmental or international education departments. Our lifeblood is community support, volunteerism, and the passion of individuals who believe in the cause. Maulana Saleh currently serves as the president, with Abdu Rahim, a committed supporter based in Saudi Arabia, serving as the director and key financial contributor; and we 35-member both in Bangladesh and international decision-making committee ensures that we remain accountable and community-driven.

• Our mission is to safeguard and promote the Rohingya language (Hanifi script), strengthening cultural identity and resilience within our community and across the globe.

• Our vision is to create a world where the Rohingya language( Hanifi script) thrive, transcending borders, empowering people, and being recognized and celebrated universally. Through this lens, we dream not just of survival but of a thriving cultural revival.

What We Offer:

The Rohingya National Education Board has tailored a Burmese-style curriculum using the Rohingya language ( Hanifi script) as the medium of instruction. It includes:

Science, Mathematics, Geography, History, English, Burmese, Arabic, Islamic subjects, as well as Rohingya language. We have already translated and published books from nursery to class five into rohingya language ( Hanifi script) like Quran, Hadith, some others islamic books and history of Arakan.

• From young children to elderly learners, we run inclusive programs aimed at ensuring no one is left behind in the journey of cultural education.

A Growing Impact:

With over 200,000 learners educated and more than 300,000 currently enrolled, including educated learners, our reach continues to grow. Our work is recognized by Rohingya private community schools and supported by organizations like IOM (International Organization for Migration).

Despite minimal resources, we have become a powerful educational force, proof of what can be achieved with dedication and vision. We have four schools within the camp with the whole Rohingya syllabus, over 200 learning centers in different camps, more than 22 Madrasahs ( Arabic schools ) are teaching the rohingya language (Hanifi script ) and 15 private community schools are teaching our national education board  Rohingya language ( Hanifi script) We have almost 500 volunteers in different camp both in online and offline who are working under the RNEB.

Challenges on the Path:

Like many grassroots initiatives, financial hardship remains our biggest hurdle. With no regular funding sources or institutional backing, sustaining and expanding the initiative requires immense effort and commitment from our volunteers and leadership.

Yet, our greatest achievement is keeping the Rohingya language (Hanifi script) alive in a time when so many external forces seek to erase it.

• Future Plan and Strategy:

Developing a complete Rohingya syllabus to unify education across the community.

Establishing RNEB-affiliated schools in every Rohingya society inside the camp and where there is a Rohingya community.

Partnering with NGO-run learning centers to implement our Rohingya language Hanifi script subjects or syllabus.

Translating Islamic literature and worldly educational content, including the Qur’an, Hadith, and other essential books into the Rohingya language (Hanifi script) to foster spiritual and intellectual empowerment in our native language.

Conclusion:

The Rohingya National Education Board is more than just an institution; it is a movement, a resistance, and a vision for the future of our people. Amidst the darkness of displacement and persecution, we light the path of hope through language, culture, and education.

In a time when erasure threatens to silence the Rohingya identity, we remind the world:

“A language forgotten is a culture lost, and we refuse to forget.”

Members of RNEB in Bangladesh 

Members in Saudi Arabia 

Members in Malaysia

Members in Japan

Members in India

Members in Australia

Members in Thailand

Members in Myanmar

Activities of REBN

Competitions