Finnish authorities are investigating an education agency operating in Mae Sot, Thailand, over allegations it recruited about 350 Burmese students for vocational study programmes in Finland while charging high fees and leaving some in debt after visa refusals. The case has highlighted concerns about possible exploitation of refugees who fled Myanmar following the 2021 military coup. Get today's headlines by email Many of the students involved were living in border areas of Thailand after escaping Myanmar’s conflict and disruption to education caused by the military takeover in February 2021. In Mae Sot, they were recruited through Brighter Future Way (BFW), which offered Finnish language training and promised placements in vocational courses such as nursing, property maintenance and catering in Finland. Students were told they could secure residence permits and stable employment opportunities abroad. Applicants were typically charged around 10,000 euros each, including 8,000 euros for language training and 2,000 euros for visa and application processing. Several students said they received limited formal teaching and instead learned Finnish from peers, while also handling much of the visa documentation themselves despite the fees paid. In multiple cases, residence permit applications were rejected, with students citing reasons such as insufficient financial proof and delayed paperwork. Ma Naw Phaw, 19, said she joined the programme in hopes of building a future and supporting her family, but her application was rejected and she later struggled to recover the money paid. Of the students interviewed in reports, five were denied residence permits, and others described similar financial pressure on their families, including loans and the sale of land to cover costs. Some students also said they were later left with debt after abandoning the scheme. Finnish Border Guard authorities have launched what they described as a “large-scale investigation” into suspected misconduct by the agency, covering recruitment activity between 2022 and 2025. Officials said at least some students may have been charged excessive fees under the guise of arranging study placements, language exams and residence permits, with possible links to “aggravated extortion”. Investigator Juho Sillanpaa said such cases had previously been smaller in scale but warned this investigation could have wider implications. The founder of BFW, Min Min Soe Shwe, has been detained in Finland as part of the inquiry. The agency’s Thailand-based co-founder said the organisation had “lost contact” with him and would cease operations as no students remained in its dormitories. A Finnish vocational school, EduSavo Oy in Iisalmi, ended its planned partnership with the agency after tuition payments were not received and information about the investigation emerged. The BBC reported that Finland’s education ministry said it was not involved in the investigation but expressed concern, noting that international student recruitment through intermediary agents is widely used. It also confirmed that new legislation coming into force in August 2026, will allow students to apply directly to vocational institutions, removing the need for third-party commissioners. Pictures courtesy of The BBC Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 14 June 2026
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