MLRC trainers prepare materials for the NFPE teacher training
World Education recently entered into a new partnership with the Myanmar Literacy Resource Center (MLRC) under the USAID-funded Project for Local Empowerment (PLE). MLRC is a registered non-governmental organization that is able to work in partnership with government entities as well as community-based organizations to increase educational opportunities for PLE target populations. Through this partnership MLRC will implement Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) activities in 16 learning centers across five townships in Karen and Tanintharyi States in Southeast Myanmar as well as in Mae Sot, Thailand.
MLRC trainer conducting NFPE teacher training
This partnership expands PLE’s scope of education support by providing out-of-school youth and migrant children (ages 10-14) with an opportunity to complete five years of primary education in two years via MLRC’s government-recognized Non-Formal Primary Education curriculum. Along with allowing students the opportunity to catch up on their education, these activities will enable out-of-school children in Myanmar and migrant children in Thailand to earn a Myanmar recognized primary level education, which enables students returning to and already living in Myanmar to join the formal education system in Myanmar at their appropriate grade level.
Group activity at NFPE teacher training
To ensure that the NFPE activities delivered by teachers are of high quality and having the most impact, MLRC hosted a teacher training on June 23, 2016 in which a diverse group of 137 new NFPE teachers were in attendance. Coming from Mon, Karen, and Tanintharyi States, teachers participated in interactive activities that built new skills in micro-teaching and lesson planning, as well as strengthened the teachers subject based knowledge in Burmese, English, math, and general science. With the new school year beginning soon, these teachers will be able to immediately utilize their new skills while MLRC will provide continued mentoring and support throughout the school year.
World Education is very excited about this new partnership as it provides a unique opportunity for older children on both sides of the Thai-Myanmar border, who have previously missed out on primary school, to catch up on their education, and be able to join their peers in mainstream schools upon completion of the two year course. This partnership also serves as a significant milestone for PLE as it expands the project scope and impact while ensuring that students have access to a quality, recognized education.