A look at education in Karen state and the Refugee Camps along the Thai-Burma border
By saw Georgire (Kaw Ku)
For people from Burma getting an education is difficult, especially in ethnic areas such as Karen State. Some people choose to come to the refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border to improve their educational opportunities. However, there are different advantages and disadvantages to being educated in Karen State and in the refugee camps. But for all people education is a top priority. For students inside Karen state it is quite difficult for them to have access to education because of the situation. Some children can not go to school because their parents can not afford for them to go. Also there are other obstacles that affect their ability to attend school. Sometimes, they have to stop attending school because they have to help their family forage for food or take care of the younger children in their families while their parents go off into the jungle looking for food. Another reason is that teachers are not always able to hold classes because they are in the same situation as all the other families and are struggling for their survival and need to spend time gathering food. Schools are sometimes closed because of the state peace and development council’s (SPDC) military operations. When the soldiers from the Burmese army come to villages, people have to flee to another place so that they are safe, leaving behind their school.
In comparison children in the refugee camps have lots of chances to get education students and their families in the camp do not need to struggle and worry for their daily food – everything is provided for them. In Burma and in the refugee camps education goes from 1st standard, to 10th standard. In Karen state classes are not too large, generally there are 15 children in each class. In some classes they have fewer students, but at least one child per standard. Sometimes teachers have to look after more than one standard because there are not enough teachers.
However in the refugee camps the situation is different. The classes are very large and if there are too many students in the class, 35 students or more, the standard will be separated into three or four different classes, such as standard 5 A, standard 5B, standard 5C, etc. as there are enough teachers they only needs to look after one standard.
There are not enough school in Karen state. In Karen state it is not possible for the students to go from 1st standard to 10th standard in their village as most villages only have a primary schools (standard 1 – 4). Only a few villages have middle schools (standard 5-7) and students from the surrounding communities, who are able to attend school, come to this one school. There are even less high schools, and there are only two or three post-10 schools in Karen state.
For students that have to travel to their schools it is dangerous and there is no security for these students. Some internally displaced children have to walk very far to the nearest school and this may not be safe, especially for girls. They may b e required to cross areas with landmines or checkpoints set up by Burmese military or other armed groups.
There are enough schools in the camps, so it is convenient and possible for the students to go from 1st standard to 10th standard. There are also many post- 10 schools that focus on special skills, such as English language, vocational skills, etc. therefore, after students have finished high school they can attend special post – 10 schools, conveniently,and further their education.
Some schools in Karen state are funded by the villagers and other schools are supported by organizations. However, this assistance from organizations is not enough. For schools that do receive support, often it only covers some of their needs, such as book, or teaching materials. Also this assistance depends on the organization and their budget and usually it is only a short-term solution. Consequently, schools often do not have a large quantity of equipment for students. Some schools have chalk, blackboard and books, but not every school has this equipment. For the students, they don’t have enough books to use. For the students’ stationery, families have to struggle to provide them on their own, so it is very difficult for needy families. The actual school buildings in Karen state are not very good as they are only temporary buildings but it is possible for the students studying in them.
Most schools in the refugee camps are funded and supported by organizations, such as ZOA, an international non-governmental organization that focuses on providing education, and the Karen Education Department (KED). The schools have blackboards, chalk, books, pencils and other necessary material, including teacher salary. However, the financial support that teachers receive is only really pocket money, it is not enough for them. The students, they have enough books to use and they do not need to buy any stationery, such as books, pens, pencils and other necessary things for studying. Every thing they need is issued to them and every thing they need is convenient for them. The school buildings are adequate for the students to study in, but they could be better.
Teacher in Karen State receive support from parents and other organizations such as free Burma Rangers, partner and KED. They receive rice and some financial support , but this is not enough for them and their families, so they also have to struggle for their survival. Teachers in Karen state are selected depending on the communities need, and the teachings willingness. When choosing a teacher they do not look at their education background some teacher have graduated from 10th standard, while others have only finished 7th standard, but because of the lack of teachers, they need to be teachers. It is not easy to find and selected qualified teachers in Karen state. It is very rare.
Most teachers in the camp have finished post-10 schools before they become teachers. Before starting to teach, most receive teacher trainings. The trainings that teachers in camps receive include: how to look after students, methods about manage the classes, behavioral management and how to make lesson plans. Teachers generally receive this training before they being, however, some of them do not need to attend this teacher training because they have already completed the Teacher preparatory course (a two-year intensive teacher training course).
However, both teachers from Karen state and the refugee camps have a passion for teaching. Some of the teachers from Karen state receive teacher training from Karen Teacher Working Group and Karen Education Department before starting to teach, but others do not receive any training. The sort of training that teachers in Karen state receive before being teacher is : how to run the school, teaching methods and how to take care of students. They also learn how to make lesson plan. They receive teacher training necessary for working inside Karen State and this training is different from the teacher trainings teachers in the camp receive.
Teachers in Karen state need to use both the Burmese and the Karen Education department curriculum. The Burmese authorities only allow schools to use the Burmese curriculum. However the Burmese curriculum does not engage the students, it relies on the students repeating what teachers says and does not engage the students, it relies on the students repeating what teachers says and does not encourage the students to think creatively or for themselves. Additional, it also does not incorporate ethnic languages, such as Karen, into the curriculum. So to provide students with a well rounded education, and to ensure the security for the teachers and village, the schools use both curriculums. As teachers in the refugee camps do not need to worry about the Burmese authorities , they use the KED curriculum and teaching method, which is not so different from the method that teachers in Karen state use.
The level of education in the camps is good. Today children in the refugee camps can understand and speak English reasonably well. The students who really try hard to learn progress significantly and they are learning better because they can go to school full time and have more educational opportunities, not like students in Karen State. unfortunately, though there has been progress, there has also been failure in many ways for the students in camp. While students have the opportunity to receive important and useful knowledge, they do not know how to take this opportunity and make the most use of it – not all, just some do this. The students in the camp face many distractions such as sports, watching movies, general laziness and other temptations, which stop them from studying.
In comparison, the level of education in Karen state is low. This is because the teachers are not qualified enough, lack of resources and it is difficult for children to attend school full time. However, the villagers realize this, and they say the main thing is that they can see that their children can red and write correctly . they say that if they see that they will be satisfied.
Most students go to school because they love education and regard it as important thing. For the parents and community, they love to support education and they value it. Even though in Karen state they are in a crisis situation, they want their children to go to school in order to be educated. They do not want their children to remain behind of other people. So, even when families are hiding in the jungle as internally displaced persons, they establish temporary schools for the children, and lessons continue. As with students in Karen state children in the camps really love and value education and try to get as much education as possible. Most parents and communities in the camps support and value education. They help out with the schools and cooperate with the teachers. Some of the student’s parents, even though they themselves are not educated, would like their children to be educated. Education is the most important thing for everybody. I believe that without education you can’t develop you community and we, the Karen community, need a lot of educated people who have skills in social, economic and political affairs. More than that, if we have education, wherever we go, wherever we are, we will not be looked down on. Now-a-days if we look at developed countries, they are that way because of education. Education is the foundation for the future. Every child has that right to be an educated person and to achieve their potential.
By saw Georgire (Kaw Ku)
For people from Burma getting an education is difficult, especially in ethnic areas such as Karen State. Some people choose to come to the refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border to improve their educational opportunities. However, there are different advantages and disadvantages to being educated in Karen State and in the refugee camps. But for all people education is a top priority. For students inside Karen state it is quite difficult for them to have access to education because of the situation. Some children can not go to school because their parents can not afford for them to go. Also there are other obstacles that affect their ability to attend school. Sometimes, they have to stop attending school because they have to help their family forage for food or take care of the younger children in their families while their parents go off into the jungle looking for food. Another reason is that teachers are not always able to hold classes because they are in the same situation as all the other families and are struggling for their survival and need to spend time gathering food. Schools are sometimes closed because of the state peace and development council’s (SPDC) military operations. When the soldiers from the Burmese army come to villages, people have to flee to another place so that they are safe, leaving behind their school.
In comparison children in the refugee camps have lots of chances to get education students and their families in the camp do not need to struggle and worry for their daily food – everything is provided for them. In Burma and in the refugee camps education goes from 1st standard, to 10th standard. In Karen state classes are not too large, generally there are 15 children in each class. In some classes they have fewer students, but at least one child per standard. Sometimes teachers have to look after more than one standard because there are not enough teachers.
However in the refugee camps the situation is different. The classes are very large and if there are too many students in the class, 35 students or more, the standard will be separated into three or four different classes, such as standard 5 A, standard 5B, standard 5C, etc. as there are enough teachers they only needs to look after one standard.
There are not enough school in Karen state. In Karen state it is not possible for the students to go from 1st standard to 10th standard in their village as most villages only have a primary schools (standard 1 – 4). Only a few villages have middle schools (standard 5-7) and students from the surrounding communities, who are able to attend school, come to this one school. There are even less high schools, and there are only two or three post-10 schools in Karen state.
For students that have to travel to their schools it is dangerous and there is no security for these students. Some internally displaced children have to walk very far to the nearest school and this may not be safe, especially for girls. They may b e required to cross areas with landmines or checkpoints set up by Burmese military or other armed groups.
There are enough schools in the camps, so it is convenient and possible for the students to go from 1st standard to 10th standard. There are also many post- 10 schools that focus on special skills, such as English language, vocational skills, etc. therefore, after students have finished high school they can attend special post – 10 schools, conveniently,and further their education.
Some schools in Karen state are funded by the villagers and other schools are supported by organizations. However, this assistance from organizations is not enough. For schools that do receive support, often it only covers some of their needs, such as book, or teaching materials. Also this assistance depends on the organization and their budget and usually it is only a short-term solution. Consequently, schools often do not have a large quantity of equipment for students. Some schools have chalk, blackboard and books, but not every school has this equipment. For the students, they don’t have enough books to use. For the students’ stationery, families have to struggle to provide them on their own, so it is very difficult for needy families. The actual school buildings in Karen state are not very good as they are only temporary buildings but it is possible for the students studying in them.
Most schools in the refugee camps are funded and supported by organizations, such as ZOA, an international non-governmental organization that focuses on providing education, and the Karen Education Department (KED). The schools have blackboards, chalk, books, pencils and other necessary material, including teacher salary. However, the financial support that teachers receive is only really pocket money, it is not enough for them. The students, they have enough books to use and they do not need to buy any stationery, such as books, pens, pencils and other necessary things for studying. Every thing they need is issued to them and every thing they need is convenient for them. The school buildings are adequate for the students to study in, but they could be better.
Teacher in Karen State receive support from parents and other organizations such as free Burma Rangers, partner and KED. They receive rice and some financial support , but this is not enough for them and their families, so they also have to struggle for their survival. Teachers in Karen state are selected depending on the communities need, and the teachings willingness. When choosing a teacher they do not look at their education background some teacher have graduated from 10th standard, while others have only finished 7th standard, but because of the lack of teachers, they need to be teachers. It is not easy to find and selected qualified teachers in Karen state. It is very rare.
Most teachers in the camp have finished post-10 schools before they become teachers. Before starting to teach, most receive teacher trainings. The trainings that teachers in camps receive include: how to look after students, methods about manage the classes, behavioral management and how to make lesson plans. Teachers generally receive this training before they being, however, some of them do not need to attend this teacher training because they have already completed the Teacher preparatory course (a two-year intensive teacher training course).
However, both teachers from Karen state and the refugee camps have a passion for teaching. Some of the teachers from Karen state receive teacher training from Karen Teacher Working Group and Karen Education Department before starting to teach, but others do not receive any training. The sort of training that teachers in Karen state receive before being teacher is : how to run the school, teaching methods and how to take care of students. They also learn how to make lesson plan. They receive teacher training necessary for working inside Karen State and this training is different from the teacher trainings teachers in the camp receive.
Teachers in Karen state need to use both the Burmese and the Karen Education department curriculum. The Burmese authorities only allow schools to use the Burmese curriculum. However the Burmese curriculum does not engage the students, it relies on the students repeating what teachers says and does not engage the students, it relies on the students repeating what teachers says and does not encourage the students to think creatively or for themselves. Additional, it also does not incorporate ethnic languages, such as Karen, into the curriculum. So to provide students with a well rounded education, and to ensure the security for the teachers and village, the schools use both curriculums. As teachers in the refugee camps do not need to worry about the Burmese authorities , they use the KED curriculum and teaching method, which is not so different from the method that teachers in Karen state use.
The level of education in the camps is good. Today children in the refugee camps can understand and speak English reasonably well. The students who really try hard to learn progress significantly and they are learning better because they can go to school full time and have more educational opportunities, not like students in Karen State. unfortunately, though there has been progress, there has also been failure in many ways for the students in camp. While students have the opportunity to receive important and useful knowledge, they do not know how to take this opportunity and make the most use of it – not all, just some do this. The students in the camp face many distractions such as sports, watching movies, general laziness and other temptations, which stop them from studying.
In comparison, the level of education in Karen state is low. This is because the teachers are not qualified enough, lack of resources and it is difficult for children to attend school full time. However, the villagers realize this, and they say the main thing is that they can see that their children can red and write correctly . they say that if they see that they will be satisfied.
Most students go to school because they love education and regard it as important thing. For the parents and community, they love to support education and they value it. Even though in Karen state they are in a crisis situation, they want their children to go to school in order to be educated. They do not want their children to remain behind of other people. So, even when families are hiding in the jungle as internally displaced persons, they establish temporary schools for the children, and lessons continue. As with students in Karen state children in the camps really love and value education and try to get as much education as possible. Most parents and communities in the camps support and value education. They help out with the schools and cooperate with the teachers. Some of the student’s parents, even though they themselves are not educated, would like their children to be educated. Education is the most important thing for everybody. I believe that without education you can’t develop you community and we, the Karen community, need a lot of educated people who have skills in social, economic and political affairs. More than that, if we have education, wherever we go, wherever we are, we will not be looked down on. Now-a-days if we look at developed countries, they are that way because of education. Education is the foundation for the future. Every child has that right to be an educated person and to achieve their potential.
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