Unlocking the power of citizenship education How Preansika (18) from Thailand transformed her life through adult education
Troubled Beginnings
Preansika, 18, had a troubled childhood.
Born in a remote village along the Thai-Myanmar border, she only had access to
basic education. Her father struggled with substance abuse and her parents got
divorced when she was seven years old. Fearing for their safety, Preansika, her
mother and younger sister fled to live with her grandfather in another village.
Fending for her family
With no father to support them, Preansika’s
mother had to go out to work. Preansika had no choice but to join her. The
family needed her income. She was just 11 years old.
Work meant long days in the field, sometimes starting from 5:00 in the morning and lasting until 10:00 at night. This stopped Preansika from getting the education she deserved.
'When I saw other people go to school, I felt sad. Why could I not study like other people? Instead, I had to work hard to provide for my family. I needed education to help change my life'.
Work meant long days in the field, sometimes starting from 5:00 in the morning and lasting until 10:00 at night. This stopped Preansika from getting the education she deserved.
'When I saw other people go to school, I felt sad. Why could I not study like other people? Instead, I had to work hard to provide for my family. I needed education to help change my life'.
New languages breaking down barriers
When she was 15 years old, Preansika made the decision to attend adult education classes in the Ban Nai Soi
Community Learning Centre. She learnt how to read and
write English. She also learnt essential Information and Communication
Technology (ICT), life skills, a livelihood subject and local languages such as
Burmese and Karenni.
Learning the Thai language was special for Preansika. Growing up in a remote village on the Thai-Myanmar border, Preansika predominantly spoke Burmese and knew no Thai. Now fluent in Thai, she plans to teach her sister the language.
'My biggest challenge was learning how to write, how to read and how to speak the Thai language. Thai grammar is also very difficult for me, but I really love to learn the Thai language. If I do not speak Thai, it will be very difficult for me to get a good job'.
Learning the Thai language was special for Preansika. Growing up in a remote village on the Thai-Myanmar border, Preansika predominantly spoke Burmese and knew no Thai. Now fluent in Thai, she plans to teach her sister the language.
'My biggest challenge was learning how to write, how to read and how to speak the Thai language. Thai grammar is also very difficult for me, but I really love to learn the Thai language. If I do not speak Thai, it will be very difficult for me to get a good job'.
Earning money from education
As part of Preansika’s adult education classes,
she also learnt about agriculture. Now she is able to grow her own vegetables, reducing
her family’s expenditure on food.
With her new computer skills, Preansika can now sell goods such as yama dresses on Facebook Marketplace where she earns extra income for her and her family. She posts these ads in many languages, reaching a wider audience.
With her new computer skills, Preansika can now sell goods such as yama dresses on Facebook Marketplace where she earns extra income for her and her family. She posts these ads in many languages, reaching a wider audience.
Integration into Thai society
Preansika’s three-year journey in
adult education has positively impacted her family and friends, too. For her
friends, most of whom are ethnic minorities who do not speak Thai, Preansika
can translate at the market when they buy food or clothes.
She can also help her mother in the hospital, as her health is failing.
'Before, when I could not speak Thai, I needed to hire other people to take my mother to the hospital. Now I can do it myself'.
She can also help her sister with her homework.
'Before, when I was young, my parents didn’t have education, so I had no one to help me do my homework, but now my sister has me to help her. I am really proud of myself that I can help my sister do her homework'.
Finally, Preansika can now go back to her village and teach others who do not know Thai how to speak the language.
She can also help her mother in the hospital, as her health is failing.
'Before, when I could not speak Thai, I needed to hire other people to take my mother to the hospital. Now I can do it myself'.
She can also help her sister with her homework.
'Before, when I was young, my parents didn’t have education, so I had no one to help me do my homework, but now my sister has me to help her. I am really proud of myself that I can help my sister do her homework'.
Finally, Preansika can now go back to her village and teach others who do not know Thai how to speak the language.
A brighter future
For Preansika, the future looks
bright. She has ambitions to go to university and to support her family with a good job. She wants
to be a tourist guide for those who visit Thailand and show them around her
village.
Preansika considers herself one of the lucky ones. Without adult education, she would have continued working out on the fields with her mother and would likely be forced into early marriage.
Preansika considers herself one of the lucky ones. Without adult education, she would have continued working out on the fields with her mother and would likely be forced into early marriage.
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.
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Unlocking the power of citizenship education
Troubled Beginnings
Fending for her family
New languages breaking down barriers
Earning money from education
Integration into Thai society
A brighter future
Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education