Certification of learning: practical implications for learning institutions

Su-Ann OhResearch consultant

How many people could potentially benefit?

Residents

0 to 5 years

5 to 17 years

0 to 17 years

Karen camps 2007

111489 15712 38122 53834 (48% of population)

Karenni Camps 2007

20251 3188 6683 9871 (49% of population)

Migrants 2004

1-2m (est) 271,500 - 362,000; 543,000 - 724,000

(30-40% of population)

Practical implications

Schools in refugee camps Migrant schools in Thai towns

Thai schools Adult learning

Teachers Able to cope with teaching curriculum? Teaching for exams? At the moment not good at assessing student performance

Need training

Able to cope with teaching curriculum? Teaching for exams? At the moment not good at assessing student performanceNeed training

Need to be able to cope with students with different needs and to manage student integration

Need training

Thai teachers teaching ThaiNight school teachers able to cope? Vocational and other training? Need training

Resettlement Constant teacher turnover Can we have Thai teachers come into camp? Or even better have students bussed to Thai schools?

Turnover? Can we have Thai teachers come into migrant schools? Or even better have students bussed to Thai schools?

Teacher population relatively stable

Resettlement

Language Karen in Karen camps, Burmese in Karenni campsExams in English/Karen/Burmese/Thai?

Mixture of languages

Which language?

Thai Thai, Karen/Burmese?

Curriculum and textbooks

KED and KnED approved curricula

Currently using a range of curricula and textbooks; current efforts to standardize

Thai curriculum Thai curriculum, KED and KnED approved curricula

Assessment

Where, when, cost, fees

All KED schools have examinations for KG to standard 10 at least for mid-term and final. There are also standard board exams for standard 4 and 7. Continuous assessment?

A mixture Students need to pass the NET (National Educational Test) to graduate to the next level. After the sixth year of high school, they take The O-NET (Ordinary National Educational Test) and A-NET (Advanced National Educational Test).

No exams, KED exams

Recognition of prior learning?

Progression Higher education possible? Higher education possible?

Higher education possible? Higher education possible?

Infrastructure Science labs needed? Science labs needed? Not all villages/towns have all levels of schooling