Two thirds of migrant workers' children not going to school, NGOs lament

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Two thirds of migrant workers' children not going to school, NGOs lament
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- ONLY A THIRD of the 300,000 to 400,000 children of migrant workers in Thailand appear to be in any form of education, according to research by two international non-government organisations.

Save the Children and World Education say that of children enrolled in primary education, only about 4 per cent make it to secondary level.

While the number of migrant children in school has been increasing thanks to the Thai government's "Education for All" policy, it was not always consistently implemented in different regions and schools.

Other barriers for migrant children were financial constraints, language barriers, and a lack of awareness of their rights, the research said.

"Not only is education a fundamental right for children of migrant workers, it is key to enabling the migrant community in Thailand to offer better skills and to integrate successfully into society," Save the Children in Thailand's country director Allison Zelkowitz said.

"Equally importantly, migrant children are the most common victims of human trafficking, a serious issue for Thailand, and education is a key strategy for their protection," she said.

Children who are not in school are at risk of becoming the victims of traffickers, who subject them to some of the most dangerous work in the construction and sex industries.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Two-thirds-of-migrant-workers-children-not-going-t-30259945.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-13

[bangon04]

"ONLY A THIRD of the 300,000 to 400,000 children of migrant workers in Thailand appear to be in any form of education,"

This is terrible.... Thai employers really should give the little kids a few hours off in the mornings to go to school...

[trogers]

Perhaps govt of Laos, Cambodia and Burma can set up their nation's international schools for these kids.

I fear for the kids' future should they return to their countries with only the Thai language.

[maidee]

a good way to ensure more no education slave wagers to build thailand