There are at least 200,000 migrant children of an estimated 2.5 million migrant workers in Thailand. The majority are from Myanmar. Despite national policies that are inclusive of migrant children, such as the 2005 Education for All policy, their lack of social protection and legal status means that migrant children’s access to crucial early childhood interventions has so far been limited. VSO Thailand/Myanmar has worked on migrant education for many years, especially to improve access and the quality of education in the Thai state system and in informal 'migrant learning centres'.
Last month I completed my 12-month placement as a community research adviser with VSO Thailand/Myanmar. During this year-long research project, I worked with our partners to train local teams of researchers to reach over 400 stakeholders in four provinces across Thailand. This included migrant communities, organisations and authorities to bring a variety of perspectives and voices from the ground.
We launched the research report In School, In Society: Early Childhood Development in Myanmar Migrant Communities at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand. A variety of guests attended the event including staff from UN agencies, NGOs, diplomats, donor agencies and journalists. I presented our findings as part of a panel of experts: VSO programme manager Hattaya Wongsaengpaiboon, early childhood development (ECD) professor Dr. Panadda Thanasetkorn from Mahidol University, and migrant policy activist Rosai Wongsuban from the International Rescue Committee.
The response to the report was very positive. During event discussions, participants felt that the issue of migrant children in Thailand still had not been sufficiently addressed. For example, the Thai and Myanmar governments still have a lot to do to develop inclusive policies. However, organisations working on the ground need to better inform migrant communities of their rights.
We also discussed how access to ECD was part of the much larger issue of the status of migrant workers in Thailand. And that given the incredible contribution migrants make to the Thai economy, employers and the media can also play a crucial role to improve the situation of migrant children. In some cases, employers are the only channel through which migrant parents can obtain information about services that are available for their children. This is especially in the case of those living in extreme isolation without legal status who do not know what is beyond where they live and work.
The media could help by influencing wider attitudes towards migrants in Thai society. For example, journalists could highlight the issues facing migrant communities but could also promote a more positive image of migrant communities.
By bringing attention to the issues facing migrant communities in Thailand, we want to engage different sections of society so they can think about how they can help in their own way. VSO Thailand/Myanmar will also recruit ECD specialists volunteers to work with communities and schools, to help build a brighter future for migrant children in Thailand.
