5.9. MISSING OUT ON AN EDUCATION
Lack of education can determine the course of a child’s life. Economic difficulties and conflict can keep children out of school in Burma and subsequently they may arrive in Thailand with little or no education. If they are fortunate they will find a place at a learning centre in or around Mae Sot. Community survey respondents ranked education as the best thing about raising their child in Thailand, however it was estimated by a CBO leader that less than half of the migrant children in Mae Sot are attending school with the majority of these (60%) in primary school. In the community survey just over half (55.6%) of respondent’s children between 4 and 18 years of age are attending school, either in Thailand (78.4%) or Burma (18.5%). Of those who attend school in Burma, around half (50.8%) live with their parents who send them across the river everyday to school in Myawaddy with the remainder living in Burma with relatives. Most children attending school in Thailand were at a learning centre (58.6%) with the majority attending nursery and primary 108 (82%) which reflects the general trend seen. A number of children who work or attend religious or Thai schools during the day also attend night school so they can learn Burmese and English. Regular attendance can be difficult due to time constraints and the risks of travelling at night.