Oct 5, 2005

Three Schools in Kler Lwee Htoo District Closed

Doh Daw Khee, Ler Wah and Kwee Lah primary schools were forced to close last month due to new SPDC offensives in Ler Doh township, Kler Lwee Htoo district, Karen State. 4 Columns under SPDC Division 33 were responsible for the terror which included the shooting of two villagers from Kwee Lah village. At the time of writing this article, it was not known if these two villagers have survived or not. All of the 124 students and 13 teachers were unharmed in the attacks but are now hiding in the forests. Doh Daw Khee was forced to close on September 13. KTWG members report that the school was reopened at a new site on Spetmber 27th. Ler Wah and Kwee Lah schools remain closed since September 19.

Sept 2, 2005

First Community Library in Karen State.

On 30th August, 2005 local organizations, community leaders school students, villagers, teachers and KTTC students gathered together in Hko Kay village, a small community along the Salween River to celebrate the opening of the first community library in Karen State. The group celebrated by reciting Hta (a form of traditional poetry), singing songs, playing the Karen harp and Paw Ku (a Karen instrument) and telling stories ( new and old ).

The library is organized and managed by KTTC teachers and students. Two librarians received a one-week training on library management from Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA) before the library opening.

Naw Ler Htoo, KTWG coordinator, explains that, “The library targets three main groups –KTTC students, school students, and adults from Hko Kay and neighboring communities. KTTC students use the library as a resource center for their studies. They are also learning how to manage the library – they learn by doing! There are specific times set out for children to come to the library. Primary school students can get help with their homework from KTTC students every Monday through Saturday morning between 7-8 a.m. Story telling and other activities are provided in the afternoons. On Saturdays elders are invited to come and teach traditional music, tell stories and share other knowledge. Adults are encouraged to come and enjoy the books during the day while KTTC and school students are busy with their studies.”

The library will help develop children's appreciation of books as well as their interest and skills in traditional music, stories and other aspects of Karen culture. This is not just a building full of books but a place where knowledge is shared, stories are told and created, and where Karen culture is celebrated.

July 25, 2005

Hoo Mu Der School Forced to Close

Hoo Mu Der primary school opened in June 2005 . Unfortunately, the school was forced to close soon afterwards due to SPDC activities in the area which, as reported by a member of the Karen Office for Relief and Development (KORD), was in retaliation for an earlier KNLA counter-attach in which SPDC suffered casualties. On July 7, 2005 SPDC entered Hoo Mu Der and killed Maung Ah Noe, an innocent 42 years old villager, who had been forced to guide the SPDC troops to the village. Hoo Mu Der school, after being closed for two weeks, was able to reopen in the 3rd week of July after (SPDC) troops had departed.

July15

Hsi Keh Der School Forced to Close Hsi Keh Der village school ceased operating from 1996 to 2003 due to trouble caused by SPDC troops. According to an unnamed source, SPDC Army activities in the area have decreased in 2004/2005 as a result of ceasefire negotiations between the Karen leaders and the Burmese government. Consequently, the school has been reorganized and set up in Baw Tha Ti, a place where internally displaced people are living and taking refuge. Community leaders have been eager to re-establish the school no matter how difficult the conditions. The school has been upgraded to standard five and has two teachers and eighteen students. Baw Tha Ti is quite close to a SPDC army camp. Although the school has reopened, the area continues to be at risk and villagers must always remain cautious and vigilant.

June 30, 2005

New Social Studies Curriculum to be Piloted

A new scoial studies curriculum has been developed by a number of Karen educators and was approved at the KED annual conference in early June. The new curriculum is planned to be piloted in 10 schools inside Karen State in 2005, but this has yet to be confirmed by KED. The social studies curriculum is also being introduced to future trainers both in the refugee camps and inside Karen State. On June 15, the first batch of trainers were introduced to the curriuclum in No Ph camp. Other camps will follow.

June 10, 2005

Developments and Challenges Discussed at Annual Karen Education Department Conference

During the first two weeks of June, Karen education leaders met to discuss the current status of education in Karen refugee camps and inside Karen State. working with other ngos, number of schools, pay rate of teachers, textbook provisions for inside, policy, internal KED job descriptions, gave management training to township training already and in future will provide further training to both district and township about edu. management: school stats, reporting, school inspection, school management.

Thramu Say Naw facilitated an institutional evaluation of the KED to identify strengths and weaknesses.

KTWG reported on newsletter, Mobile, KTTC, KEF, and distributed 525.000. Although KTWG suggested that KED_KTWG work together i providing summer vacation teacher training in Karen State, KED decided that the trainings will be done seperately. KED and KTWG agreed to improve communication and hold regular bi-monthly meetings.

June 6, 2005

Fighting Keeps School Closed

Fighting between SPDC and KNU near Bu Tho Klo village, Mergui-Tavoy district has forced the local school to remain closed. The community has decided to move the school to a safer location and reopen it there.

May 27, 2005

Karen Teacher Training College Closes and Opens

The graduation ceremony for KTTC 2004-5 students was jointly held with the opening ceremony for the 2005-6 KTTC students on May 27th. The day marked the end to the intensive one-year training of trainer program at KTTC which aimed at providing qualified teacher trainers for Karen State districts. The 2004-5 year was an accelerated program which focused on subject methodology training, pedagogy, education leadership and management and participatory training methodology. The 2004-5 graduates have already moved on, working with their respective district education offices or with KTWG.

25 new students from across Karen State (and 2 from Karenni State) joined the 2005-6 class. They are mostly recent high school graduates. This class will study for 2-years at KTTC before returning to work as school teachers in their respective districts.