Daw Noe Kue IDP Camp on the Thailand-Myanmar border experiences a lack of proper school infrastructure and other school supplies, said a school official.
Khu Pale Reh, the person in charge of the school, said that in addition to school buildings, the IDP school also needs school materials such as chairs, desks, textbooks, notebooks, pencils, pens, rulers and erasers.
In 2022, there were only about 500 students, but the number of students has increased to 1,000 this year, which further increases the need, he explained.
“Our biggest challenge is the school building. The building is not ready yet. That is our biggest challenge. We also need water and toilets for the children. We also need more chairs and books, including textbooks,” Khu Pale Reh said.
He also said the school needs a water tank for the toilets.
Khun Robert, administrator of the school’s administrative committee, said the school’s management faces various difficulties and challenges as the school’s operation largely depends on the military and political situation in the region.
“We are still facing many difficulties, some of which are due to the military situation and school facilities. We also face these difficulties because of the lack of a suitable building, which is still under construction. Our difficulties also include the need for books, including textbooks for various subjects,” Khun Robert said.
Daw Noe Ku IDP camp has also taken in students who were not accompanied by their parents or guardians, so boarding schools are needed for these students, he said.
Khu Pale Reh also called for people to contribute to building boarding houses for the students.
“It would be great if support groups could contribute to the construction of boarding houses. Some children have difficulties because they are not accompanied by their parents. Some of them live with their aunts and uncles. Since they have no income, they have difficulties, including meals and learning,” he explained.
Daw Hla Hla Win, a woman in Daw Noe Kue IDP camp who was displaced from Daw Hlyar Khu village in Demoso Township, said she is not worried about her children’s schooling, but there are other needs.
“Unlike in the village, here they have the opportunity to go to school. But since we don’t have jobs that provide us with income, we have difficulty living here. We can’t even afford clothes and shoes for them,” Daw Hla Hla Win said.
More than 1,070 students from kindergarten to 10th grade study at Daw Noe Kue IDP Camp’s high school, which reopened for the 2023 school year on 12 June this year.
Parents and school officials are asking donors to provide for educational needs in some way despite the school’s reopening.
Sent by NMG.