Learning Centres
One aspect that defines the character of the people of Burma is their
thirst for knowledge, yet for migrant community here many still have not
realized and understood the importance of education just what like
uneducated people always do. Their lack of education is the reason why
they don't appreciate education, and we want to stop this passed to
their children.
However the growth of migrant learning centres has proven that more immigrants has
come on the right path and appreciate and understand the importance of sending their children to school. Some parents, though living at subsistence levels, are setting education as a priority. They are well aware that education is the key to improving their children lives, they are taking the initiative and asking for assistance to start schools. Our heart is not strong enough to say "No" to a child coming to our school, but The Question is "Do we have enough resources to accept all the children" and this may make us say "No".
Our schools are from nursery to post ten program and are located in Thailand and in IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) area inside Karen State, Burma. Currently there are 62 migrant learning centres acknowledged by Ministry of Education (MoE), Thailand. Over 50 of them receive either full or partial funding from us and 38 of them are are members of us.
However the growth of migrant learning centres has proven that more immigrants has
come on the right path and appreciate and understand the importance of sending their children to school. Some parents, though living at subsistence levels, are setting education as a priority. They are well aware that education is the key to improving their children lives, they are taking the initiative and asking for assistance to start schools. Our heart is not strong enough to say "No" to a child coming to our school, but The Question is "Do we have enough resources to accept all the children" and this may make us say "No".
Our schools are from nursery to post ten program and are located in Thailand and in IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) area inside Karen State, Burma. Currently there are 62 migrant learning centres acknowledged by Ministry of Education (MoE), Thailand. Over 50 of them receive either full or partial funding from us and 38 of them are are members of us.
What is a learning centre (MLC)?
Many of the learning centres that we are funding were started with community members who are often former teachers. It was ten years ago since BMWEC started to organize them. They had no connection and network with international NGOs or Thai state agencies. They did not know the existence of each other. Curriculum, management, school rulse and regulations, teacher recruitment and any other things that have to do with schooling was totally the choice of individual schools. Thai government at that time was either not aware or uninformed of the situation.
Today, International NGOs and organizations have involved in providing either or both material and financial assistance, and school therefore are dependent on these organization. MoE, Thailand has acknowledged the existence of migrant learning centre and they too are working on organizing and coordinating MLCs.
Many of the learning centres that we are funding were started with community members who are often former teachers. It was ten years ago since BMWEC started to organize them. They had no connection and network with international NGOs or Thai state agencies. They did not know the existence of each other. Curriculum, management, school rulse and regulations, teacher recruitment and any other things that have to do with schooling was totally the choice of individual schools. Thai government at that time was either not aware or uninformed of the situation.
Today, International NGOs and organizations have involved in providing either or both material and financial assistance, and school therefore are dependent on these organization. MoE, Thailand has acknowledged the existence of migrant learning centre and they too are working on organizing and coordinating MLCs.
Here are some characteristics that define a migrant learning centre
Student
Student number of a learning centre can be as low as fifty and as high as over a thousand. Students were born either in Burma or Thailand or in Refugee camps along Thai-Border for few of them. Some of them may have Burmese citizenship, but apart from that they are stateless.
Teachers
Quality of teachers is also ranged from primary to university graduates. Many of them served at Government schools in Burma and joined to serve at MLCs when they figure out the existence of MLCs after their migration to Thailand. They -for those we fund - are paid between THB 1500-4000 (about USD 50-130) per month, but there are also conditions that they are paid less them THB 1500. However, many teachers choose not to leave school even when they have better choices simply because they love education children - children from their own country. Most of the teachers are stateless too.
Student
Student number of a learning centre can be as low as fifty and as high as over a thousand. Students were born either in Burma or Thailand or in Refugee camps along Thai-Border for few of them. Some of them may have Burmese citizenship, but apart from that they are stateless.
Teachers
Quality of teachers is also ranged from primary to university graduates. Many of them served at Government schools in Burma and joined to serve at MLCs when they figure out the existence of MLCs after their migration to Thailand. They -for those we fund - are paid between THB 1500-4000 (about USD 50-130) per month, but there are also conditions that they are paid less them THB 1500. However, many teachers choose not to leave school even when they have better choices simply because they love education children - children from their own country. Most of the teachers are stateless too.
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