Indonesia is a major refugee transit country in Southeast Asia. As of May 2023, Indonesia hosted at least 12,704 refugees, primarily from Afghanistan, Somalia, Myanmar, Iraq and Sudan. Almost 30% are children.
Most of them stay for more than four years in Indonesia without knowing when will the transit period will end. Considering the period of time that can be wasted, especially for refugee children, we argue that the refugee children need to access education while they are waiting. Regardless of their residential status, they have a fundamental right to education, to prepare them for their future and to provide a sense of normalcy and stability.
