The Central Monitor checking students’ literacy at an NFPE center in Pharpon Township
Rural, out-of-school migrant and internally displaced children in Burma and Thailand face many challenges that make it difficult to access an accredited education or staying in school. The changing political situation in Burma presents opportunities to return to home communities, but children need support to ensure a smooth transition back into the Myanmar education system upon their return.
The Myanmar Literacy Resource Center (MLRC) works to promote quality education and literacy by developing literacy materials, facilitating the exchange of information and resources, and providing training for non-formal education (NFE) teachers. With PLE support, MLRC oversees the administration of Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) centers of education in Kayin State and Taninthyiri Division, Myanmar, and migrant communities in Thailand. NFPE centers support out-of-school students ages 10-14 to complete a primary education by condensing five years of primary schooling into two years. Upon completion of the program and exam, students receive a government endorsed certificate that allows them to enroll into the formal Burma school system at their relevant grade level. The NFPE program not only accommodates students of all education and literacy levels but provides flexible classes on the weekends and evenings to accommodate students who are often required to work.
In Burma, the partnership enables 347 students (182M/165F) to access NFPE in Kayin State and in Thailand it supports 116 migrant students (56M/60F) to complete primary education and thus segue smoothly back into the formal Burma education system, if and when they return to Burma.
Along with support to students, MLRC supports teachers under PLE by providing teacher training twice per year that focuses on teaching methods. MLRC also conducts monitoring and evaluation of the NFPE centers twice per year to ensure quality education is being provided and NFPE objectives are being met. Due to the success and demand of the NFPE program in both Thailand and Burma, MLRC is currently piloting a Non-Formal Middle School Education (NFMSE) program, funded by other donors, which will expand non-formal education services to older out-of-school youth and ensure more migrant and internally displaced children have access to an accredited education.
Mission/Vision: To offer a second chance at education to children aged 10- 14 years who missed the opportunity of completing primary education and to offer a chance of continuing education at formal secondary schools to those children who have completed NFPE.
Link to PLE Strategy: MLRC works to promote literacy activities in Burma through developing literacy materials, facilitating the exchange of information and resources, and providing training for non-formal primary education (NFPE) teachers. With PLE support, MLRC oversees the administration and training of teachers in NFPE centers of education in Karen State and Tanintharyi region in Burma, and migrant areas of Thailand, so that they can attain an accredited education and ensure a smooth transition into the Burmese education system in the future.
Partnership period: 1st June 2016 – 31st July 2017
Project location(s): Karen State and Tanintharyi Region, Burma and Mae Sot, Thailand
Project beneficiaries (direct & indirect): NFPE students, teachers and monitors
Students and teachers at a MLC in Mae Sot Township receive support from MLRC to complete the NFPE program