By Kantarawaddy Times
Students hoping to complete their higher education are being turned away from schools along the border between Burma and Thailand due to less resources available for their shelter and board.
“We have only taken in a limited number of students,” said Maw Mee Mar, director of the Seh Theh Foundation. “We have to take care of accommodation, food, medical care and security for these students, so we can not take them all in,” she told the Kantarawaddy Times.
Many youths have fled to the border since the regime launched new offensives in eastern Demoso Township in Karenni State on 9 March.
Education officials say they face many challenges in providing education to the new arrivals.
“If we take in too many students, we will not be able to provide them with proper education. That’s why we have to limit the number of students here,” said Maw Mee Mar.
With the help of donors, Deeku Education Centre, Karenni Social Development School, Seh Theh College, Karenni National College and Karenni Leadership College have started classes in the border areas. However, every year the number of students increases and they do not have enough money to provide for everyone.
One young man who dropped out of university after the military coup because he did not want to study under the regime has travelled to the Thai border to complete his education. Without it, “I do not feel I can effectively help our people and that is why I am going to study in school,” he explained.
According to Khu Bu Reh, deputy minister of the Karenni education department under the Karenni National Progressive Party, they are trying to open an additional school for the students who are unable to attend classes this year. He says they are facing financial and technical challenges to provide vocational education to the students who could not enroll in the existing schools.
