There is no "Back to School" for Migrant Children Living in Encampments

Children in migrant encampments and shelters across Mexico are facing profound barriers to one of their most basic rights: education. International law guarantees that every child has the right to primary and secondary schooling, free from discrimination. Yet the reality is starkly different for displaced children. Many arrive in Mexico after fleeing violence or poverty in their home countries. Once there, they often find themselves shut out again—trapped by restrictive laws, overwhelmed local systems, or prolonged stays in detention centers where education is virtually nonexistent. Even in shelters or temporary camps, access to classrooms and trained teachers is rare, leaving children without the structure and stability that learning provides.

For those who do manage to enroll in school, the challenges don’t end at the classroom door. Migrant children are frequently placed in overcrowded classes, taught in languages they do not fully understand, and stigmatized by peers or educators. Children with disabilities are especially left behind, often lacking even the most basic accommodations. Education is not just about learning—it is about healing, rebuilding confidence, and imagining a future beyond displacement. Governments must move beyond policies that isolate or discriminate against migrant children and instead invest in inclusive, well-resourced classrooms. By working with humanitarian partners and committing to real change, they can transform education in shelters and encampments from an afterthought into a lifeline—giving displaced children in Mexico the chance to learn, to belong, and to hope.

At Rise Up and Read, we believe literacy is a human right. Each year, hundreds of thousands of children from Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Mexico are forced to flee their homes. We bring multilingual library spaces to children where they are in migrant centers.