Education system in Karenni Refugee Camp 1

(Research made by DCD program \ Knnc)

 

In Karenni Refugee Camp 1, there are five primary schools, four middle schools, one high school and one post-ten school. There are also other post-ten courses, such as the course provided by Karenni Social Development Center (KSDC). KSDC’s mission, vision, objective and subjects are different from KnNC’s.

 A report by the Social Development Centre, titled “Karenni Refugee Camp 1 Education Situation,” published on October 2013, gave us detailed information on the camp structure, particularly from the primary school to the high school levels. 

At the primary school level, which is grade 1 to 4, there are five subjects. These are Karenni, Mathematics, Basic Burmese, Basic English and Social Studies.

At the middle school level, which is grade 5 to 8, there are seven subjects. These are Karenni, Basic Mathematics, Basic Burmese, Basic English, Geography, Basic Science and History.

At the high school level, which is grade 9 to 10, there are seven subjects. These are Basic Mathematics, Burmese, English, Geography, Science, South East Asian History and General Science Studies.

 

According to KnNC Principal Gabriel, at the post-ten level there are four majors, Science, Information Technology, Social Science and Community Management. You can refer to the below table to see the subjects that students study under each major.

 

Major (For First and Second Years)

Subjects studied based on major:

Sciences

• English, History 

• Mathematics,

• Science 

• Basic Computer

• Karenni

 

Information Technology

• Basic Computer 

• Advance Computer 

• Basic Mathematic,

• English,

• Intro to Social studies

• Karenni

Community Management

• Karenni

• English

• Basic Computer

• Basic Mathematics

• Karenni 

• Community Management 

• Introduction to Social Studies

Social Sciences

• Karenni

• Basic Computer

• General English

•  Basic Mathematics 

• Social Sciences

 

In addition, third year students can major in diploma in community development. The subjects that are taught are Active Citizenship, Community Development (Human Rights, Gender Equality), Community Project Management, English, Democracy and Rule of Law, Research Methods, History of Karenni, Civil Education, and Political Issue, leadership (public education, advocacy, and sustainable development), Financial Management, Peace and Conflict and Field Work.

Importance of KnNC school

 

KnNC graduates are crucial for the Karenni community for three reasons. Firstly, they will play an important role within  the community in Mae Hong Son. In fact. after being graduated most of the students will become teachers or working in the Community Based Organization (CBO) or Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).As examples of opportunitiees are:  Karenni National Youth Organization, Karenni Women’s Organization, Karenni Social Welfare Development Centre, and Women Study Program. These are organizations are active into different needs of the Karenni community.

Secondly, KnNC is also important for the community in Kayah (Karenni) State, Myanmar. Khin July Soe who works for KnNC and Seh Theh Learning Center said "STLC have been running under the umbrella of KnNC in numbers of young people living inside Burma/Myanmar can get access education."

 

Thirdly, KnNC is also important for students who want to continue their higher education. Principal Gabriel said, “Students, who want to apply for further study, should pass the KnNC School in camp. KnNC School prepares students to get scholarship to study in international universities either in Thailand or other countries.”

 

Achievements of KnNC

 

KnNC has had many achievements. Firstly,KnNC is the highest level education in the Karenni Refugee Camp (1). KnNC generates around 80 students each year to work for the Karenni community.

Secondly, Principal Gabriel has noticed that more foreigner volunteers are interested to teach in KnNC. we have also introduced new major such as Social Sciences for First Year students.

Thirdly, Some KnNC graduated have opportunity to go to university.

According to Elizabeth Mimar, currently, there are 22 KnNC graduates that are studying different universities and 32 students have already been graduated.

KnNC curriculum has improved over the years and has also become better. In the past, for example, from 2010 to 2011 academic year, we had only about 30 students in KnPT.   At that time, we had five subjects in our school such as English, Science, Math, Social Science and History of Burma. 

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