Research
SEARCH
our publications
REPORT
Realizing Education for All
How bilingual classroom assistants are helping migrant students in Tak Province
This report demonstrates the significant impact of bilingual classroom assistants on multilingual education for migrant students in Thai Public Schools, with key findings showing up to 47% improvement in scores and increased classroom engagement. The study also explores the challenges and opportunities within the Thai Public School system for non-Thai children, focusing on accessibility, quality, and inclusion.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Cracking the egg carton profession
Sensemaking of the teacher leader role on the Thai-Myanmar border
Driven largely by conflict, displacement, and economic pull factors over the past three decades, a homegrown system of mother tongue-based education for migrant children from Myanmar has been developed in Tak Province, Thailand. This paper documents learning from the creation of the ‘teacher leader’ role aimed at building school-level capacity to sustain TPD by giving new responsibilities to 31 teachers as peer coaches during the pandemic.
RESEARCH BRIEF
Being Family
Using film to promote positive parenting and reduce violence against children
Being Family is a film-based intervention co-created with migrant and
communities from Myanmar using evidence-based parenting skills from
WHO-UNICEF Parenting for Lifelong Health programs. This brief reports
results from a cluster randomised trial of Being Family with 2,249 caregivers living on the Thailand-Myanmar border.
RESEARCH BRIEF
What are youth’s career interests after high school?
A survey of grade 12 migrant students based in Mae Sot District, Thailand
The aspirations and perspectives of grade 12 migrant high school students in Tak Province, Thailand, are explored through a short survey conducted at a local career fair. Their career interests, educational priorities, and digital literacy levels are disaggregated by gender and visualized with graphs.
POLICY INSIGHTS
Refugee teacher isolation
Over three decades of confined teacher management on the Thai-Myanmar border
Within the seven refugee camps administered by the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) on the Thai–Myanmar border, teaching is viewed as an act of service. For decades, refugee educators have lacked access to professional pathways that lead to national inclusion. Providing refugee teachers with accredited opportunities and a living wage stands to benefit teacher recruitment, retention, and the quality of education in refugee camps.
REPORT
Stepping Stones
The Impact of the Twin Crises on the Future of Migrant Education in Thailand
The COVID-19 pandemic and political turmoil in Myanmar severely impacted the education of Myanmar migrant children in Thailand. A 2021 research project, "Stepping Stones," delves into these twin crises, highlighting the resilience of educational pathways and the potential for recovery.
REPORT
Make Learning Count
Migrant Learning Center registration in Thailand
This report examines school registration options for MLCs in Thailand and the importance of providing education tailored to all children's needs. Arguing that MLCs complement the 2005 Cabinet Resolution on education for those without legal status or Thai citizenship, it calls on policymakers to enhance legal registration and recognition channels for teachers and students.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Designed for Disruption
Lessons learned from teacher education in Myanmar and its borderlands
Teacher education in Myanmar and its borderlands, affected by prolonged conflict and disruptions, operates within both state and nonstate systems. While the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Myanmar's central government's teacher education, parallel systems adeptly adapted with decentralized, flexible strategies, potentially offering insights for teacher education in other crisis contexts.
JOURNAL ARTICLE (PAYWALL)
Shaping Comparative Education Inquiry amidst Myanmar's Protracted Emergency
Learning from Teacher Education Designed for Disruption
This book examines the interplay between teacher education and comparative and international education (CIE), focusing on how they can mutually benefit in light of global socio-cultural and politico-economic changes. With contributions from global experts, it discusses topics like equity, social justice, and sustainable development goals, featuring case-studies from countries including Myanmar, South Korea, and the USA.
JOURNAL ARTICLE (PAYWALL)
Assessing multilingual teacher competencies
A case study of indigenous teachers on the Thai–Myanmar border
Myanmar has 117 living languages, with over 23 million people fluent in one of the major indigenous languages. Despite this linguistic diversity, the national language dominated school instruction until 2021, often unfamiliar to ethnolinguistic minorities. A study involving multiple organizations assessed multilingual education competencies, finding 94% of ethnic and refugee teachers met the requirements to bridge students from their mother tongue to a second language.
REPORT
Safety Nets
A Situational Analysis of Non-Formal Education Pathways for Migrant Children in Tak Province
Since 2014, Migrant Learning Centres in Tak province have offered non-formal education pathways, benefiting over 3,500 students. However, challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Burmese political crisis, and the potential loss of accreditation threaten these programs, highlighting the need for swift action and investment to sustain them.
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Deep change in low-resource classrooms
Data-driven teacher professional development for educators from Burma
Under the recent democratic government, Burma underwent significant education reform, central to which was the Teacher Competency Standards Framework (TCSF). This study evaluated the competencies of Burmese educators from migrant learning centers on the Thai-Burma border, revealing a 15.34% improvement in teaching skills during a 10-month training program, especially when teachers were given options for enhancement.
REPORT
Improving Protection for Migrant Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In the wake of COVID-19 in Thailand's Tak Province, research highlighted prevalent physical abuse, emotional abuse, and child labor among migrant children. The report provides recommendations to ensure educational continuity and bolster child protection mechanisms in these marginalized communities.
RESEARCH ARTICLE
A Measuring Stick for MLE
A tool, a Karen case study, and discourse in support of MLE best practices
This article delves into the global challenge of multilingual education, examining its importance in a world with diverse linguistic backgrounds. Dive deeper to understand the complexities of transitioning from mother-tongue to national languages and the benchmarks often used to assess the effectiveness of these educational programs.
REPORT
Education Reimagined
COVID-19 Emergency Response for Migrant Education
Educators at Migrant Learning Centers (MLCs) on the Thai-Myanmar border, previously grappling with resource limitations, now confront amplified challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. With potential extended closures, financial strains, and rising concerns about student retention and well-being, the landscape of education is rapidly evolving.
PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH
Bridges
Participatory Action Research on the Future of Migrant Education in Thailand
Since 2015, access to recognized education for migrant children in Thailand has improved, with many Migrant Learning Centers adopting recognized curricula. However, with over half still out of school, a comprehensive Participatory Action Research project, surveying 1,763 participants, underscores the continued challenges and need for enhanced inclusivity.