Education for Migrant children in Border Patrol Police Schools Wednesday, 2 December 2015 11:30 – 11.50

Pol.Lt.Col.Ladawan Chatthai Deputy Superintendent of Border Patrol Police Bureau, General Staff Division 7

Border Patrol Police School At the beginning, when the BPP. Troops patrol the work along the border. They met with people way up on the mountains, mostly hill tribes people. The problem was “Communication” They could not communication with those people. When the BPP. Troops patrol the work along the border. They met with people way up on the mountains, mostly hill tribes people. The problem was “Communication” They could not communication with those people. They found that those hill tribes who live in the mountain were very poor, struggle their life from all kinds of diseases, lack of education and face with health problems. The BPP. Started to teach them Thai language, how to speak in order to be able to communicate then teach in higher level. Support them for better live by giving them some clothes, food and medicine. That was the beginning of civil action work of the BPP.

His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen The Royal visited. When as the Royal family pay a visit to the people in the remote areas as part of the Royal development work. The royal family began to show its interest in the BPP’s civic actions. The King donated money to build ten schools and thus the BPP named these schools “King Sponsored School (chao pho luang upatham).” Likewise, the Queen offered a budget to build two more schools for highland minority children, and these schools were named “Queen Sponsored School (chao mae luang upatham).” His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen

Her Royal Highness, the princess Mother The Royal visited. Alongside the King and Queen’s support for the BPP School, the Princess Mother Sangwan channeled various donations to build a total of 140 BPP Schools and, moreover, she visited all these schools to attend opening ceremonies and distribute school supplies. Her Royal Highness, the princess Mother

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn The Royal visited. Thus, Princess Sirindhorn has continued the works of the Princess Mother with the BPP and furthermore, she has initiated her own royal projects in the BPP Schools from 1980. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

8 Royal Projects under her patronage Her Royal Highness princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn 8 Royal Projects under her patronage 1. Agriculture for school lunch program (1980) 2. Iodine deficiency program (1990) 3. Nutritional and health promotion of mother and children (1996) 4. Improvement of educational quality program (1983) 5. The education for children under the patronage of Her Royal Highness princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn program (1988) 6. Occupational training program (1988) 7. Co-operatives promotion program (1991) 8. Conservation of natural resources and environment program (1987)   Princess Sirindhorn’s royal projects in the BPP Schools. In the past, Border Patrol Police provided primary education for children, the school has also undertaken Children Development Project as initiate by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The project aims to improve the children is nutrition and health status, to gain adequate knowledge and skill both in academic and vocational issue which are needed to enable them to be self reliance, as well as to enhance their capacities to pursuer higher education and become more productive person for their communities as well as for the nation

Improving Quality of life Achievement of Stability Philosophy Creating Wisdom Improving Quality of life Achievement of Stability BPP School’s Philosophy “Creating Wisdom, Improving Quality of life, Achievement of Stability The missions of the Border Patrol Police schools are to establish the national security, to provide basic education to children and people along the border areas and to develop the better quality of life of children and people in remote communities in accordance with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirinhorn’s initiative. To be Sustainability. In order to create sustainability, BPP school is directed to be "Community center" for border, as follows: - Public Service Center - Learning Center for Princess Sirindhorn’s Royal Project - Border Coordination and Information Center.

Thailand has 4,863-km borders with neighboring countries Thailand has 4,863-km borders with neighboring countries. Of these, 1,754 km is a border with Laos, 803 km is a border with Malaysia, and 1,800 km is a border with Myanmar. The areas near the borders are mountains and woods that are far from transportation. The people living in the areas are of various (more than ten) ethnic groups such as Thai, Karen, Hmong, Yao, Muser, Mon, etc. Most people are poor. They work as farmers or work for hire. Unlike people from other parts of the country, they lack opportunity to receive basic services from the government such as education and public health systems.

Number of BPP Schools Established , January 7 , 1956 Total 747 Schools Transferred 490 Schools Dissolved 53 Schools Now 204 Schools Area School No. of Student BPP Teacher Civilian Teacher Pre-Primary Primary Secondary Total Central 45 1,642 4,812 584 6,695 296 118 North Eastern 48 1,123 3,463 - 4,320 317 50 Northern 69 2,073 5,281 332 7,602 326 193 Southern 42 1,785 3,834 5,491 301 81 204 6,623 17,390 916 24,929 1,240 442 Along with the increase in the number of schools, the range of border areas that the BPP’s school project had covered expanded from the remote areas to the central northern, northeastern Thailand. More than 747 schools were setup by BPP. Some of them have been closed down to terrorist problems 490 schools were handover to the department of Education after the areas have been developed, now there are 204 BPP. Schools with 1,682 teachers and 24,929 students with recognition of standard of education quantity, by the department of education, since 1981, which means the students who finish from BPP. Schools are entitled to receive certificate as those who finish from school under the Department of Education.

Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan 5 17 Area BPP. Schools Cambodia Myanmar Loas Total Boarder General Male Female Chanthaburi, Trad 7 2 35 29 27 1 4 6 148 Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao 10 36 Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan 5 17 Surin Chiang Rai 3 24 22 46 Chumphon, Surat Thani 8 11 33 28 12 39 45 34 31 42 15 14 284 So, let see. How much do migrant children come from Myanmar? Information of migrant children, 28 Sample BPP schools (10 provinces) It show: 146 Burmese children studied in BPP schools. The 65 children who are boarder and 81 students are general. They go to BPP school and return home by passing lenient channels. There are 13 lenient channels along the border of Thailand and Myanmar. All of Burmese children get the same teaching as Thai children. Total 28 102 146 36 284

Educational Cost Educational Cost For all of students School uniform and shoes School books School supplies School lunch School milk

At present, about 204 BPP Schools have been undertaken by the Princess Sirindhorn’s royal project, which is titled, “Development of Children and Youth in the Remote Areas.” which encompasses total eight sub-projects in the fields of primary language education, nutrition, public health, higher education, natural resources and environment, vocational training and community development.

Conclusion: To change this society, education is the most important work to do. The heart of development depends on the equal education for everyone. Whether you are in the mountains or elsewhere, we are all peoples. Border Patrol Police came to build a school. I am only patrol police teacher, With no university degree, It is my strong faith that took me here, To enlighten the wisdom of the children, Living in the uncivilized area, Without discrimination, Though this task is tough, With my strenuous efforts, I’ll go on.