Education Myanmar Project #35897

Education for All (Myanmar)

by Health and Hope UK

Project Report | Sep 12, 2019
A fantastic start to Education for All!

By Pip Wilford | Senior Partnerships & Communications Manager

At the end of June, the first students arrived in Lailenpi to enrol in the newly launched Education for All project. Over 100 youth from surrounding villages, who have previously failed their Year 10 exams, signed up to receive tutoring for the next ten months at the recently built Health and Hope Training Centre.

The project was piloted last year, supporting 202 students part-time, who were studying in two schools in Lailenpi town. The team focused on providing additional tutoring in English, Maths, Physics and Biology. The Year 10 exam results are just out and there was a significant improvement...

As a result of the pilot project, 24% of students passed their exams compared to under 10% two years ago. The 2019 result means that an additional 21 students passed the Year 10 exam in comparison to 2018. Whilst the pass rate in Chin State continued to be the lowest for the whole country, students in Lailenpi achieved a 4% higher pass rate than the state average (20%), with the highest state in the country achieving 37%. For a remote rural town, this is a significant achievement, almost matching the pass rate of students from the state capital, Hakha.

The new students enrolled last week for full-time education with the first classes taking place on Monday. one of the graduates of Health and Hope's Freedom to Education scholarship programme, is now a class tutor, supporting this project. She wrote this short message to us during enrolment:

"Yesterday when I was receiving the students for Education for All, unexpectedly I met one of my year 10 classmates. Incredibly, he has been trying to pass class 10 since 2010 when I was also taking the same exam. As soon as I met him, he said to me: "I really need your help to pass my year 10". I am so touched by what my friend said to me. I really hope and pray that this project will be a blessing for many students. Please can you thank everyone for all of their support to start this project and a big thanks to all our generous donors. May God bless you all."

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Jun 13, 2019
Giving students a second chance

By Pip Wilford | Senior Partnerships and Communications Manager

Last year we ran the Education for All pilot project. Four Health and Hope staff members, who had recently graduated from our Freedom to Education scholarship programme, partnered with local schools to fill gaps where there were teacher shortages. They delivered the English, Maths, Biology and Physics curriculum to over 200 students.

We're delighted that there was a significant improvement in the exam results this year, with the grade 10 pass rate changing from just 2% two years ago, to 24% in 2019! While this is still low compared to western standards, it is a great leap forward for the local youth and families of rural Chin State.

The historically dismal pass rate in the rural areas has contributed to weaknesses in local drivers for change, as only students who matriculate from Year 10 are able to secure formal employment or go onto further education. It has also left a deluge of despondent youth in rural communities who have repeatedly attempted the grade 10 exams and failed.

Building on the success of the exam results and new teaching methods, Health and Hope Myanmar are launching a tailored Education for All project this year for students who have previously failed their year 10 exams. Focusing on these 'repeater students', the project will provide full-time schooling and individual study support for up to 100 youth, with the aim of radically changing their life opportunities over the next 12 months.

The education team are currently interviewing potential students who will commence their studies in the next few weeks, with the project launching in the newly built Health and Hope Training Centre. It will run from June 2019 to March 2020.

We're really grateful to those that have supported the launch of this project. We look forward to updating you again in a few months' time once the new students have settled in!

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Feb 5, 2019
The first few months...

By Christopher Jones | Executive Director

First teaching sessions

It's always exciting, but a bit daunting starting a new project. This one in particular. The challenge is huge... In 2017, only 2% of students passed their Grade 10 exams. Just eight out of 502 students. Without gaining a matriculation certificate at Grade 10, students and their families are locked into a cycle of poverty.

Our focus over the first few months of this new education project has been twofold. Firstly to integrate our staff into the existing education system and secondly to undertake an external review of the challenges.

It's been a delight to see staff welcomed into both the government and church school in Lailenpi where our work is based. Lailenpi is nestled in the mountains overlooking the western border of Myanmar (Burma). It is extremely remote, with the nearest town at least 10 hours drive over treacherous mountain roads.

Despite the newly built school building, there are no resources to support learning or books available in the classrooms, other than those passed down from prior students. Traditional teaching methods are by rote, promoting memorisation rather than enquiry and understanding. The class sizes are large with up to 50 students and many subjects (including the sciences and maths) are taught in English, despite most teachers having no confidence in the use of the English language.

Our staff are native to Lailenpi, however have at least five years experience studying outside of the country and are fluent in English. They are currently providing classes in English, Maths, Physics and Biology, working to promote understanding amongst the high school students and those studying to retake their grade 10 exams.

We've also been delighted to host Janette, a retired educational consultant from the UK who is currently undertaking a review of teaching methodology and the challenges facing students and parents. In addition, Janette has been hosting English classes and running teacher training workshops.

As the pilot continues, we’ll be following a process of listening, acting and learning as we try to identify the most appropriate interventions to take the project to scale.

We look forward to updating you on our progress in our next report!

Chris Jones

PS We've just released our latest video update on our work. If you would like to find out more about Health and Hope, you will find the video at the following link: https://healthandhope.org/our-work/video

Teaching at the church school

The newly built government school

Educational support from a UK based professional

One on one support

Links:

Latest video update on our work

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