April 2014 – In April and May 2014, 158 youth graduated from the academic portion of the five PLE-supported higher education centers: English Immersion Program (EIP), Global Border Studies (GBS), MNEC Post-Ten school, Wide Horizons (WH) and the Teacher Preparation Center (TPC).
These higher education centers were conceived in direct response to community requests for students to learn the skills they need to work in schools and community based organizations along the border. Students who are migrants and refugees often can only access school through Grade 10 with little opportunity for education beyond that. Higher education centers fill the need to provide meaningful education to young people that can then be used to improve their communities.
One of the longest-running higher education programs on the border, EIP, marked its 10th anniversary with the graduation of 24 students. In its role as partner to World Education Thailand in implementing these education programs, KRCEE’s Department of Higher Education (DHE) also had 13 students graduate from the GBS program in March. Following their graduation from the academic component, the combined 37 students have been placed in a range of support positions in organizations in health, protection, education and peace-building sectors across Myanmar (Burma) and the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Mon National Education Committee’s Post-Ten program graduated 18 students. In recognition of the Post-Ten curriculum, these students received certification from Windham Progressive Institute of Education in Applied Teaching and English Language Arts.
Graduation for the Wide Horizons program was held on 29 March 2014. 24 students completed the 10-month academic course and are being placed in year-long internships in various sectors in both Myanmar and Thailand. These students will receive Thai MOE recognized diplomas, as well as certificates from Windham Progressive Institute for Education for completion of Community Development with a specialization in Project Management.
The TPC graduated 79 students from 12 ethnic groups, all of whom completed the intensive 10-month pre-service training. These graduates were awarded with two different certificates; one was from Windham Institute for Progressive Education in applied teaching and the second from Payap International University in community development. More than half of the graduates are now participating in organizing and delivering summer vacation trainings to teachers across Eastern, Northern and Northwestern Myanmar.