The people of Burma are involved in a long and difficult struggle to create a democratic future. Education is a vital part of that struggle.
The Burma Education Partnership (BEP) is a British educational charity supporting a range of initiatives involving communities affected by war, oppression and economic hardship in Burma. Most of our work is done on the border between Thailand and Burma.
The website contains information on the background
to the situation and details of our work. It also offers you the chance to play a small part in the huge issues which are shaping this nation.
Evocative Images
Explore in the Gallery our work on the Thai border and the life of Burmese people captured in the striking images of photographer Ben Manser.
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Mobile Teaching Unit
The BEP has been setting up a Mobile Teacher Programme. This project offers professional support for education in the scattered, often poorly resourced schools situated in the displaced Burmese communities. This year was a pilot which we intend to expand in subsequent phases.
The project involves several elements. We are working with Burmese teachers to develop teaching materials for the existing curriculum. In addition we provide teacher training and work in the classroom alongside Burmese teachers.
By so doing we build on the best of the existing classroom practice and try to provide accessible supplementary materials and teaching practice which fits into the current curriculum and is manageable for often untrained Burmese teachers.
By taking this 'grassroots' approach we are trying to work towards ensuring a level of continuity, progression and sustainability.
Currently the number of Burmese teachers in the area where we work stands at 457, only 39 of whom are actually qualified teachers .A small mobile unit of professional teachers can have a great effect in these circumstances
This is Phase 1 of a programme which we will take into Phase 2 in 2009. Phase 1 was due to end in December and we will receive funding for Phase 2 in June 2009. However, we now feel that the programme has been so well received that we need to ensure that we maintain the momentum and continuity by extending Phase 1 from January to April 2009 when the long holidays start in Thailand.
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