Jurin fears NGOs' classroom influence

Bangkok Post - Education News

By: SIRIKUL BUNNAG

The Education Ministry plans to bring all stateless children into the formal school system because of worries some are being taught by unregulated non-governmental organisations.

All children born in Thailand qualify for free compulsory education but many study with volunteer teachers attached to non-governmental organisations. This is because of convenience or parents' fears of sending them to state schools.

But these volunteer teachers and NGOs are a concern for the ministry. "We have no idea what they teach and instill in those children," Education Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said yesterday.

Mr Jurin announced a plan to lure the children into formal schooling, both public and private institutions, after talks with security agencies which expressed the concern that they might fall victim to ill-intentioned people hiding among good teachers at NGOs, which could then pose a threat to national security.

The ministry now provides an education for about half of the more than 100,000 stateless kids. These are usually children of foreign labourers who have permanent jobs in Tak, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon.

Another 50,000, mostly children of foreigners who often change work, are reportedly being taken care of by teachers from NGOs and social foundations.

Security agencies say most teachers are foreigners, some of whom have entered Thailand illegally.

Children who study with these teachers do not have a chance to learn Thai or even their mother tongue as the teachers only school them in foreign languages. This could be exploited by those wanting to destroy national security, the agencies said.

"They're allowed to teach freely with no state controls," Mr Jurin said. "If we leave the children with them and don't know their exact purposes, it may lead to a situation similar to southern unrest."

Source : http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/16527/jurin-fears-ngos-classroom-influence