Enhancing participatory citizenship for all: The importance of community learning centres
Education cannot be stolen
Rosie, 33, is a teacher at the Ban Nai Soi Community Learning Centre. It was founded 18 years ago by her father, who fled Myanmar in 1996.
When he came to Thailand, he saw that many migrant students, refugees and poor Thai children had bleak prospects. Women often had to choose between finding a rich husband or going into prostitution. For men, the most common options were working as labourers or selling drugs. The Ban Nai Soi Community Learning Centre was born to give these people better prospects.
When he came to Thailand, he saw that many migrant students, refugees and poor Thai children had bleak prospects. Women often had to choose between finding a rich husband or going into prostitution. For men, the most common options were working as labourers or selling drugs. The Ban Nai Soi Community Learning Centre was born to give these people better prospects.
‘My father always said, “if I give you a house or a car, people can steal this, but education they cannot steal. If these young people have education, they can have a better life and promote better community living and there will be fewer problems for Thailand”’.
Continuing her father’s legacy
Initially, Rosie was reluctant to follow in her father’s footsteps and become an adult educator. She saw firsthand how much time and patience it took to teach adult learners.
But, in 2007, her father had a motorcycle accident which left him unable to work. Rosie and her mother vowed to continue his work. At the age of 17, she took on the role of adult educator at the centre her father had established. Once nurturing dreams to work abroad, Rosie stayed put to continue her father’s vision.
“When we pass away from this world, we cannot take anything with us. The only thing we will leave is our name and our visions and our work for the new generation to pick up”.
But, in 2007, her father had a motorcycle accident which left him unable to work. Rosie and her mother vowed to continue his work. At the age of 17, she took on the role of adult educator at the centre her father had established. Once nurturing dreams to work abroad, Rosie stayed put to continue her father’s vision.
“When we pass away from this world, we cannot take anything with us. The only thing we will leave is our name and our visions and our work for the new generation to pick up”.
A wider system of support
After completing her high school level education at Mae Hong Son Adult Education, Rosie studied for her master’s degree at Chiang Mai University.
Without Mae Hong Son Adult Education and Thailand Adult Education providing training opportunities for prospective teachers, people like Rosie would not be able to become adult educators and support thousands of learners through their local community learning centres.
Without Mae Hong Son Adult Education and Thailand Adult Education providing training opportunities for prospective teachers, people like Rosie would not be able to become adult educators and support thousands of learners through their local community learning centres.
Nurturing visions
Rosie gets great satisfaction from seeing her students succeed and realize that they can be whatever they want to be in this world. They are the pride of the community, prized for their ability to speak multiple local languages and Thai, acting as a conduit between the local community and wider Thai society.
For Rosie, the most important thing adult learners can take away from their classes is their ability to take all their knowledge and give back to society.
For Rosie, the most important thing adult learners can take away from their classes is their ability to take all their knowledge and give back to society.
Expanding beyond Thailand
With this in mind, Ban Nai Soi Community Learning Centre has expanded its offering to provide an online course for disadvantaged youths in Myanmar, where education has been severely disrupted by the ongoing conflict.
Last year, 10 students in Myanmar took online examinations in Thai. Students are also taught ICT skills, community development, livelihood subjects and local languages such as Burmese and Karenni, as well as English.
This year the programme has enrolled 35 adult students, many of whom have been severely affected by the ongoing conflict.
Last year, 10 students in Myanmar took online examinations in Thai. Students are also taught ICT skills, community development, livelihood subjects and local languages such as Burmese and Karenni, as well as English.
This year the programme has enrolled 35 adult students, many of whom have been severely affected by the ongoing conflict.
‘My dream is to meet with universities and organizations abroad and discuss with them how we can cooperate together and expand this programme to other parts of the world’.
Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education
The developments in adult learning and education in the Ban Nai Soi Community Learning Centre and 170,000 others across the region are featured in the Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 5), launched on 15 June 2022 at the Seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) in Marrakech, Morocco. GRALE 5 combines survey data, policy analysis and case studies to provide policy-makers, researchers and practitioners with an up-to-date picture of the status of adult learning and education in UNESCO Member States.
Scroll down to continue
Swipe to continue
Swipe to continue
Enhancing participatory citizenship for all: The importance of community learning centres
Education cannot be stolen
Continuing her father’s legacy
A wider system of support
Nurturing visions
Expanding beyond Thailand
Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education