Educational opportunities of Burmese migrant children in Samut Sakhon provice

Abstract

In the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it clearly state that even though a child living in one particular country and possibly stateless, he/she should get access to basic education in that country. Thailand has ratified this convention, thus Thailand policies should be based on child’s rights by support the education of migrant children. Although the Ministry of Education launched policies that allow all children to access basic education in formal school, a few get access to school. This qualitative research would like to fine the educational opportunities and their obstacles and examine Thailand policies involving in basic education. It chooses Samut Sakhon province where the large number of Burmese workers are as the research site. The research is conducted by focus group interviews of Burmese migrant children and in-depth interviews of key informants; Burmese migrant children who study in Thai school and informal school, the teacher, the parents of Burmese migrant children, the officers of Samut Sakhon Education Service Area Office and staffs of Non-Government Organization (NGOs). The result from each children and key information is categorized the kinds of school that operated for Burmese migrant children in Samut Sakhon province and obstacles of school access. This research found two kinds of educational service for Burmese children; formal and schools. The formal school is Thai schools and informal schools are operated by ethnic Mon community and NGOs. Although, the policy supports educational opportunities of Burmese migrant children, their educational opportunities depend on school practice, their parents and themselves. The children who study in formal school have different educational expectations from others who study in informal school and out of school. In contrast, basic education in formal school has a few influences on their career expectations. This research has proposed solution for the policy maker, government officials, schools teachers and NGOs that relevant to this topic.