Education for the Marginalized Karen in Burma

Burma Issues

Saw Moe K. Tun

April 1998

The current educational system of the Karen National Union has a strong urban bias which is not practical for the majority of the Karen living in agricultural settings. Likewise, scholarship programs currently offered by foreign organizations, primarily benefit a small portion of elite Karen; they do not help the majority. Because educational development and overall development are interrelated, any new educational development efforts should be based on overall development needs for group. Before implementing any new educational development program for the marginalized Karen, a broad and thorough survey should be done to discover the needs of the people. Providing equal opportunities for marginalized Karen and other groups must be a primary goal of educational development.