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The Issues of Educational Certification along the Thailand/Burma border

The Issues of Educational Certification along the Thailand/Burma border. January 2008 “ I feel like I got an education so no problem, but I would like if my certificate was legal ” - Student in Umpium Refugee Camp, Thailand. The Population. 500,000 IDPs in Eastern Burma

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The Issues of Educational Certification along the Thailand/Burma border

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  1. The Issues of Educational Certification along the Thailand/Burma border January 2008 “I feel like I got an education so no problem, but I would like if my certificate was legal” - Student in Umpium Refugee Camp, Thailand

  2. The Population • 500,000 IDPs in Eastern Burma • Over 130,000 registered refugees in the 9 Karen/Karenni refugee camps along the Thailand/Burma border • In the camps 43,418 of the refugees are under the age of 12 • 200,000+ refugees outside of the camps in Thailand • 2,000,000+ Burmese migrant workers in Thailand

  3. The situation in Burma… • 1948 Independence: Assassination and unstable democracy • Karen and other ethnic groups seek independence • 1962 repressive military group takes control of Burmese government • This past summer and the protests • Continuous attacks on minority groups: burning of villages, forced labor, stealing of food, rape…

  4. The situation in Thailand… • Thai government did not sign the 1951 refugee agreement but do have lenient refugee policies (Cambodia, Laos) • 1984 the first large scale attacks. Thousands flee to Thailand. Some emergency aid NGOs allowed to assist. • 1988 Burmese democracy refugees flee to Thailand – culture shock for many living in the jungles • 1994 Education and sanitation NGOs allowed on border • The division of the KNU: 1995 fall of Manoplow • Increased security in camps 1997 • UNHCR allowed to assist the Burmese refugees in 1999

  5. Migrants and refugees going to school in Thailand…

  6. What does the education system look like? • KED, KNED, NHEC – CBO’s or Educational Departments of governments in exile? • Migrant schools: BMWEC, Shan and Mon settlements and schools • Issues with Thai schools: language barriers, financial constraints, culture and legality • NGO support: financial, operational, curriculum, teacher training • Thai gov’t support and lack of support: Thai language, talks with NGOs and UN, restrictions on travel and id cards

  7. The Positives: Migrant and Refugee Schools • There is a great community spirit • Community ownership of the curriculum • Education is free (or minimal costs) • More materials than in Burma

  8. Problems around education… • Competition for school after Standard 10 • Thai schools: finances, language and culture • Curriculum • Not having access to University • No freedom of movement: migrants and refugees • School itself: languages, noisy, crowded, teacher salaries • Ethnic biases • Resettlement • drugs/alcohol, fighting

  9. Educational Certification: • The education up to this point was looking at repatriation back to Burma and there was no Thai dialogue. No official accreditation besides KED, KNED, BMWEC… • Thai government has only recently started talking about migrant and refugee education because of Education For All policies • Special Cases: EVA, Thai schools, GED, TOEFL, Internet education. • “My certificate means nothing if I don’t have Thai or Burmese ID” – EVA student, Mae La camp

  10. Living in a global world… • Educational Certificates are used and valued by refugees/migrantswithin their communities – no use or value (except in certain special cases) outside of community. “The degree you get is very important although not recognized internationally – it is in the community system – so as long as it is recognized in the community it is valuable. This is key, because the aim or purpose of educating people is to serve their community. To get a degree from abroad will help the individual but it won’t necessarily help the community” (24/04/07, Refugee and NGO worker). • The skills gained are valued for outside of the community: ex. English and computers. • NGOs use the certificates to put value on the work – they acknowledge the certificates in hiring practices • Thai government does not recognize certificates – but there are talks currently about providing Thai certificates • Research into how the certificates are valued once repatriated?

  11. The future… • The possibility of Migrant and Refugee schools certified by the Thai Ministry of Education: 70/30 division of curriculum • The big question: What can the refugees/migrants do with their education with limited mobility? • Resettlement. Will there be any teachers left?

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