Karen Teacher Working Group
The Karen Teachers Working Group (KTWG) is an community based organisation founded in 1997 that works to promote and improve education in Karen State. The organisation helps to fund Karen Education Department Schools [1]and conducts pre service[2] and in service[3] teacher training. KTWG provides assistance to around 1000 KED or mixed authority schools [4] The organisation was the subject of a 2016 Save the Children report[5] which found that there was "strong evidence" that KTWG was contributing to "reducing student drop out rates, increasing student participation rates, improving ethnic teacher retention rates and Improving ethnic teacher competency and skills in student-centred teaching pedagogy", as well as recognising the significance of KTWG in both national and ethnic education spheres.
Professional Development Training
The KTWG model of teacher training plays a key role in teacher education in Karen State and Save the Children has recognised that the scope of the model is far greater than what is typical among teacher training programs[6].
Pre Service Training
In 2004, the KTWG founded the Karen Teacher Training College[7] in Mu Traw[8] The school runs a two year course in teaching following a curriculum designed locally.
In Service Training
Mobile Teacher Trainers (MTT) have been conducted in service training since 2001[9], travelling to observe and support active teachers. Trainers also work with the local communities, working with local parents[10] and community members to promote the value of education and to engage people in wider policy discussions[11]Currently there are 66 Teacher trainers working with KTWG[12].
Summer Vacation Training
Teacher trainers conduct teacher trainer for four weeks during the summer school break. In 2015, 1474 teachers completed this training[13].
Financial Support
KTWG provides stipends [14]. to over 6000 active teachers each year[15]
Partners and Affiliated groups
KTWG is a founding member of The Myanmar/Burma Indigenous Network for Education (MINE) an advocacy group for Language rights in Myanmar[16]
KTWG receives financial and technical support from WorldEd[17]
KTWG has partnered with Naresuan University with the University which provided training and certification for KTWG teachers[18]
The Karen State Education Assistance Group (KSEAG) was formed in 2005 by KTWG in partnership with the Karen Education Department. It provides teacher stipends and educational material to schools in Eastern Myanmar. According to KTWG, In 2013/14 KSEAG supported 6154 teachers, 141632 students and 1294 schools[19].
References
- ^ School management. KTWG[1]
- ^ Pre Service Teacher Training. KTWG[2]
- ^ In Service Teacher Training. KTWG[3]
- ^ Conflict Sensitivity in Education Provision in Karen State. Polina Lenkova, Thabyay Education Foundation 2015[4]
- ^ A Model of Education in Hard to Reach Areas- The KTWG Model, Save the Children, 2016.[5]
- ^ A Model of Education in Hard to Reach Areas- The KTWG Model, Save the Children, 2016.[6]
- ^ [www.eenet.org.uk/resources/eenet_newsletter/news11/page12.php]
- ^ Strength in Diversity- Towards Universal Education in Myanmar's Ethnic Areas- The Asia Foundation. 2016[http://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Strength-in-Diversity-Toward-Universal-Education-Myanmar-Ethnic-Area.pdf
- ^ [7]
- ^ KTWG Training boosts parents role in their children's education. Karen News, August 2017[8]
- ^ KTWG. Community Mobilisation[9]
- ^ A Model of Education in Hard to Reach Areas- The KTWG Model, Save the Children, 2016.[10]
- ^ A Model of Education in Hard to Reach Areas- The KTWG Model, Save the Children, 2016.[11]
- ^ Comparing Models of Non-state Ethnic Education in Myanmar: The Mon and Karen National Education Regimes, Journal of Contemporary Asia,[Marie Lall & Ashley South (2014) Comparing Models of Non-state Ethnic Education in Myanmar: The Mon and Karen National Education Regimes, Journal of Contemporary Asia, 44:2, 298-321, DOI: 10.1080/00472336.2013.823534,Page 312]
- ^ A Model of Education in Hard to Reach Areas- The KTWG Model, Save the Children, 2016.[12]
- ^ ETHNIC LANGUAGES AND EDUCATION DECLARATION. MYANMAR/BURMA INDIGENOUS NETWORK FOR EDUCATION. 2014[13]
- ^ [14]
- ^ [15]
- ^ [16]