Burma: Schools:
Kho Key Middle School
| Location:
Mutraw District, Karen State
Established: 2001
Teachers: 15
Students: 115
Years Taught: Reception
to Year 9
Cost for 2008 – 2009:
£4150
Subjects: Karen, English,
Burmese, Geography, Science, Mathematics and History
|
|
Kho
Key village is three hours by boat along the Salween river from
the Thai border town of Mai Sariang. Many of the people who
live in Kho Key village are displaced from other villages because
of fighting and the desire for improved security. The number
of students in the school varies during the year, as many of
them work with their parents during key parts of the farming
season to ensure that the family has enough food to eat. The
difficulty a family faces in finding enough food has meant that
many children leave the village after completing year 4 and
move to nearby Et Tu Ta refugee camp. The number of students
has decreased from 150 in 2007 to 115 in 2008 which reflects
this uncertainty of food supply and of life in general on the
Burmese border.
As well as supporting the education of the students,
the grants given by The Epiphany Trust also go towards providing
food, vitamins and medicines. Often, a family’s inability
to provide food for their child will prevent them from attending
school.
The
staff in our Burmese schools are paid 750 Thai Baht (approximately
£14) per month. However, many teachers in other schools
are not paid or are only paid when funds allow. This means that
the children are only educated when the teacher is not either
farming or trying to raise an income another way.
The Karen Education Department (KED) is responsible
for working with the school’s committee to run and develop
the school. It makes visits to the school, collects data and
report and delivers school materials and teacher salaries.
Saw
Lah Say, the head of the KED, said "When we reviewed
and evaluated the school we were very happy with the school
management even if many of the parents are illiterate. Some
parents are farmers, traders/sellers and community workers and
they all live in mountain areas from different villages. They
participated well in running school activities and they encourage
and support their children and teachers whatever they can do".
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