skdream mhep fy jun13 - danaasia.org

!Note: Photos courtesy of Child’s Dream !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

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! Grant!Category:!! Education*! Project!Name:!! Minmahaw*Higher*Education*Program** * Mae*Sot,*Thailand** Implementing!Partner:! Child’s*Dream*Foundation*(CD)!! Project!Status:!! Ongoing!! Start!Date:!! May*2011** Completion!Date:! Mar*2014** Reporting!Period:* Full*Year*Report*(1*June*2012*–*31*May*2013)** Grant!Amount:! Training*Program:*US$98,000** * Scholarship*Program:*US$54,000*

Dana Asia Recommendation MHEP continues to achieve its objective to provide migrant students with the knowledge and support to successfully pass the examinations for entry into university. The combination of teaching and counselling ensures that the students are not only prepared for the exams but also for the journey on to University. Dana Asia recommends that the MHEP program continue to receive funding support.

Current students, teachers and guests Dana Asia, Child’s Dream and the 24 MHEP beneficiaries thank SK Dream for their generous funding of this inspirational project. MHEP is fundamentally changing the lives of the students, and is providing inspiration for many others to seek knowledge as a means of positively impacting on the future direction of Myanmar as it moves towards a freer and more open society.

The challenges ahead for Myanmar are vast as demonstrated by the recent religious clashes in various regions and the ongoing fighting in Rakhine and Kachin States. Additionally, a severe lack of skills amongst the youth is a major obstacle towards economic and social development. It is the alumni of MHEP and others like them that will play crucial roles as educators and facilitators towards a better future.

Budget Update The budget overrun of US$12,522 was fully absorbed by Child’s Dream. The overrun was predominantly due to a 5% appreciation of the USD during the period. US$ Budget Cost Diff. Salaries 39,107 40,163 1,056 Office Costs 10,479 11,003 524 Household/ Kitchen 9,765 9,796 1 School Equip/ Stationery 30,973 41,549 10,576 Monitoring 912 871 -100 Admin 6,867 7,244 377 TOTAL 98,104 110,626 12,522

Group discussion during SK Dream visit


Project Achievements Over the past 5 years 92 students have completed the MHEP university preparation course, with 86 students successfully passing the University Entrance Exams. Pass rates for the 5 years have been consistently well above the average required to receive a Pass of 450 at an average of 513. 60% of graduates or 55 students have gone on to University. (Please refer to Appendix 3 for details).

Year No of Students

Passes Avg. Uni.

2008/09 9 8 507 7 2019/10 17 16 504 12 2010/11 21 18 514 9 2011/12 24 24 534 16 2012/13 21 21 508 11 TOTAL 92 86 513 55

Reporting Period Achievements 3 2012/13 students did not sit the GED Exams as they gained places in the WUSC Program providing scholarships for refugees in tertiary institutions in Canada. The remaining 21 students completed the exam preparation course and sat the exams. The management of the GED Testing Centre changed during the year, and transport and identity document delays due to issues with the MHEP logistics partner, resulted in delays in students sitting their exams. As a result, students completed their exams over an extended period with the final group sitting their exams in late June. All 21 students were successful, with scores well above the pass rate.

Large audience at graduation ceremony

11 graduates have now commenced University or are preparing to commence, whilst the remaining 10 are working or looking for work and have indicated they will apply for a scholarship next year. (Please refer to Appendix 2 for details). At the beginning of the year a number of changes were made to the curriculum and operations of MHEP to improve performance.

Orientation Day Counselling Meetings were held with each student to assess their plans for the future and align their subject focus. Teachers and counsellors monitored students actively throughout the program, with ongoing support provided to manage the stress levels of students regarding their preparedness for the exams and the perceptions of family and community if they were not successful. Students were also regularly asked to provide feedback on teachers and the program with adjustments made to the program as required to better align with the students needs. Students were supervised and monitored during night study sessions from the outset to guide them in the implementation of good time management and prioritisation skills. Towards the end of the program, student leaders were supported to introduce night classes to help students who needed additional support with positive results.


Alumni with teaching experience post their studies also provided study support for students in need, with students indicating the sessions were very useful to both improve their study skills and manage their stress levels.

Alumni share experiences with students Ongoing Performance Assessment Student performance was regularly assessed to determine students needing additional challenges and those needing more support.

Science experiment

In September 2012 the decision was made to grade the classes to provide the high performing students with greater depth of learning, whilst supporting students requiring more intensive teaching. Counselling was provided to students in the support class. The impact of the changes was evident in the significantly improved results achieved by all students. Students continued to attend literature classes in the final weeks of the program to enhance reading skills and contextual knowledge whilst increasing the practice exams taken, as this approach was successful when trailed the previous year.

Teachers implemented some new learning initiatives including quiz nights covering topics from the course but applied through games and the creation of poetry, raps and plays.

Students in English Class New Student Recruitment The recruitment process for new students was tightened with stricter regulations regarding age, application, ID and references. 37 students were interviewed from an initial 70. The final 24 new students were announced in May, with 13 females and 11 males from Karen, Shan, Mon, Karenni and Burman ethnicities (please refer to Appendix 1 for details).

New student recruitment exams External Activities MHEP staff and students participated in a number of external events including meetings with the Ministry of Education, educational seminars, debates, workshops and presentations by Educational NGOs including CD. MHEP students and alumni sat university entrance exams: • World University Service of Canada:

5 students • HK University: 7 students and 3

alumni


Students organised social and charitable activities including the organisation of music, games and art activities at a Safe House for women and children in Mae Sot in August 2012. Social activities included participation in a Karen Wrist Tying Ceremony at Mae Pa Monastery in September 2012 and Halloween celebrations in November 2012. Students also compete in a local football league.

Student Activity with local children Alumni Update The 4 students from the 2011/12 year who did not pass their exams have been preparing to sit the exams again whilst also volunteering at local migrant schools and organisations. The students have been assessed as ready so are sitting the exams with the current 2012/13 students. Scholarship Update As detailed in the Scholarship Student Performance Update in May 2013, all six recipients of SK Dream Scholarships are performing very well academically with consistent marks well above the 2.75 level that may indicate issues may be emerging. Two new students have been chosen to receive the seventh and eighth SK Dream Japan funded scholarships (please refer to Appendix 4 for more details).

Saw Arzar – CDC Student who completed the MHEP program. He commenced studies at Chiang Mai University in mid June 2013, and is studying for a BA/BSc with a major in Social Studies. Than Than Moe – currently sitting her GED exam in Bangkok which she is expected to pass. She will commence at Bangkok University in August 2013, and will complete a BA/BSc majoring in Communications Arts.

Project Description The program aims to overcome the barriers to entry into higher education experienced by migrant students due to lack of access to formal education and limited study and research skills.

MHEP provides preparation courses to enable students to sit internationally accredited high school exams (GED) to gain access to university, and full scholarships to leading students.

MHEP has two key elements: 1. A university preparation course that

runs annually in line with the academic calendar. Potential students are assessed via a series of exams held in 12 regions. The program provides intensive tuition and essential techniques to improve students’ time management and research skills. Teachers’ work closely with students on an individual and class format basis to teach the curriculum and assess management of the tasks assigned.


2. University Scholarships are available to MHEP graduates and alumni with numbers varying from year to year.

The MHEP team consists of six full-time staff including three teachers (Social Studies, Maths/Science, Reading/Writing), one coordinator, one administrator and one cook. Background Significant changes continue to take place in Myanmar, as demonstrated by it’s hosting of the World Economic Forum on East Asia on 5-7 June 2013. Myanmar will also assume the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014, and will host the SE Asia Games on 11-22 December 2013. Many governments including the European Union and the United States have lifted most sanctions on Myanmar, and a number of bilateral agreements have been signed including a Trade Agreement with the United States in May 2013. These developments have enabled an increase in foreign investment with US$400m for manufacturing, US$364m for power, US$309m for oil and gas and US$300m for hotels and tourism in the past year, according to the Wall Street Journal (2/6/13). However, the article points out that total investment of US$1.4bn is very low compared to other developing countries in SE Asia.

Coca–Cola opens a bottling plant in Myanmar in June 2013

Impediments to increased investment include poor physical and financial infrastructure, power shortages, high land costs, a lack of skills workers, corruption and unclear regulation, according to the article. The challenges faced by Myanmar as it loosens its grip on society have also been very evident in the religious clashes that have erupted in many parts of Myanmar in recent months. Ethnic tensions have even impacted on the much-revered Aung San Suu Kyi who has been criticised for not condemning the treatment of Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state where violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 200 and the displacement of over 100,000, according to AAP.

Houses and motorcycles destroyed in religious riots (source: telegraph.co.uk) Additionally, peace initiatives with ethnic minorities in the border areas have had some success, however clashes have continued to occur in Kachin and northern Shan States and the continued militarisation of many ethnic borderlands continues.


Appendix 1 – New Students in 2013/14 academic year


Appendix 2 – 2012/13 Graduate Update

Official Name M/F Sat exam?

Pass exam?

University now attending

Current activity Apply scholarship next year?

Current Location

Boontham Pong Pang

M No No WUSC program Waiting to go to Canada

No Refugee camp

Hla San Oo M Yes Yes No Looking for a job Yes Pattaya

Htee Moo Shee M Yes Yes Chiang Mai University

Attending University n/a CMU

Pray Reh M No No WUSC program Waiting to go to Canada

No Refugee camp

Shin Ye' Htut M Yes Yes Rangist University

Waiting to start University

n/a Myanmar

Yaung Ni Oo M Yes Yes No Teacher Yes Mae Sot/ New Blood school

Than Than Moe F Yes Yes Bangkok University

Waiting to start University

n/a Hpa-An

Thar Htoo M Yes Yes No Teaching Yes New Blood school, Mae Sot

Aung Thant Oo M Yes Yes APIU University Attending University n/a Bangkok

Nann Ei Phyu F Yes Yes Rangsit University

Waiting to attend Uni n/a Mae Sot

Snow Say F Yes Yes APIU University Attending University n/a Bangkok

Samuel Moo Say M Yes Yes No Looking for a job Yes Refugee camp

Mi Reh M Yes Yes Chiang Mai University


Alexander M Yes Yes APIU University Attending University n/a Bangkok

Saw Steven Win M Yes Yes No Teaching Yes Love & Care school

Thang Cin Lian M Yes Yes No Looking for a job Yes Refugee camp

Phyu Phyu Win F Yes Yes Mahidol University

Waiting to attend University

n/a Burma

May Palae Maung F Yes Yes No Office staff Yes MAP foundation, Mae Sot

Nant Hsant Bwa F Yes Yes APIU University Attending University n/a Bangkok

Hel Lay Paw F Yes Yes No Office staff Yes Burmese Women Union, Chaing Mai

Mongpeng Rotechanarahikon

M Yes Yes Chiang Mai University


Paw Way Moo F No No WUSC program Waiting to go to Canada

No Refugee camp

Pan Pwint F Yes Yes No Office staff Yes GHAP/ Mae Sot

Aung Kyi Oo M Yes Yes No Office Administrator Yes MHEP


Appendix 3 – 5 Year Student Performance NOTES: • 410 per exam is needed to pass that subject • 450 average is needed for complete test to pass • 2250 is the total combined score for all subjects 2008/09

Student Math Sci Social Lit English Avg Total GED University Aung Min Soe 550 550 470 430 480 496 2480 Pass Yes Banya Oo 460 480 470 520 490 484 2420 Pass Yes Htaw Oo 520 530 520 410 460 488 2440 Pass Yes Saw Kanayde 550 540 520 520 480 522 2610 Pass Yes Tun Tun Win 510 540 490 520 410 494 2470 Pass No Thida Nyein 530 540 540 500 440 510 2550 Pass Yes Nan Queen Will Aung 510 580 480 No essay 523 1570 Almost No Tun Lin Aung 510 560 520 470 520 516 2580 Pass Yes Zin N.we Win 540 550 520 470 570 530 2650 Pass Yes Averages 520 541 503 480 481 507 2419 89% 78%

2009/10

Student Math Sci Social Lit English Avg Total GED University Aye Aye Mon 480 510 560 410 450 482 2410 Pass Yes Aye Nyein Phyo 480 580 570 470 480 516 2580 Pass No Min Zaw Min Tun 660 580 530 520 690 596 2980 Pass Yes Bathesheba 500 540 460 470 450 484 2420 Pass Yes Thae Oo Khaing 510 720 510 440 480 532 2660 Pass No

Eh Blet Hser 460 540 490 440 460 478 2390

Pass/retake with 2011 students Yes

Eh Htoo Wah 470 470 520 400 0 372 1860 Almost No

Eh Sue Kaung 520 580 500 420 570* 505 2020

Pass/retake with 2012 students No

Theint Hay Mar Maung 550 630 510 500 490 536 2680 Pass Yes Hla Sein 410 500 510 430 420 454 2270 Pass No Khaing Tha Zin Oo 510 600 520 450 440 504 2520 Pass Yes Nyan Moe Htat 450 630 600 470 490 528 2640 Pass Yes/own Nge Htway 520 540 530 420 450 492 2460 Pass Yes/own .Nwe .Nwe Lwin 520 580 540 450 420 502 2510 Pass Yes Sai Ngao Luarn 480 580 540 480 490 514 2570 Pass Yes Mon H.si Oung 550 670 530 520 580 570 2850 Pass Yes Saw Tar Lu Lu 480 550 550 420 480 496 2480 Pass Yes Average 503 576 528 454 454 504 2488 82% 71%


2010/11

Student Math Science Social Lit English Avg Total GED University Yan Aung 650 800 670 470 580 634 3170 Pass Yes Sai Nay Hlyan 590 550 560 470 540 542 2710 Pass No Myat Thandar Aung 570 700 580 550 540 588 2940 Pass Yes That Lwin Oo 590 650 580 420 450 538 2690 Pass Yes Tin Aung Tun 550 540 560 430 490 514 2570 Pass Yes Khun Moe Li 520 600 560 510 550 548 2740 Pass Yes Kaung Khant Swe 590 540 560 390 500 516 2580 Almost No Tin Zar Wint 550 520 530 450 410 492 2460 Pass Yes

Khoon Soe Min Thien 620 540 450 400/430* 470 520 2080


Saw Pyit Phyo Aung 570 550 590 430 450 518 2590 Pass No Tin Tin Yi 510 530 530 450 560 516 2580 Pass No Hnin Wutyi Aye 520 540 500 420 480 492 2460 Pass Yes Saw Htoo Dai 460 490 500 370 450 454 2270 Almost No

Saw Arzar 510 570 470 400/490* 480 508 2030


Aung Zaw Myo 550 520 430 430 460 478 2390 Pass No Hnin Tha Zin Htwe 550 700 480 450 460 528 2640 Pass Yes Naw Juliana Chris 490 490 430 410 440 452 2260 Pass No Sa Lin Ko Hlaing 530 600 590 510 450 536 2680 Pass Yes Mg Wai Hin Phone 570 530 480 370 410 472 2360 Almost No Thaung Maung Aung 450 460 510 420 520 472 2360 Pass No

Oape Hmu Aung Aung 520 470 490 420 470 474 2370

Pass/took with 2012 students

Averages 546 566 526 441 484 514 2520 85% 45% *Retakes


2011/12

STD Math Sci Social Lit English Avg Total GED University Ei Ei San 640 550 580 730 560 612 3060 Pass Yes Aye Myat Su Wai 640 580 800 480 620 624 3120 Pass Yes Aye Thida Lin 610 580 550 500 540 556 2780 Pass No May Nadi Kyaw 590 540 590 560 620 580 2900 Pass Yes Aye Myamya Phoo 640 560 580 560 590 586 2930 Pass Yes Santiphap 610 540 480 543 1630 Pass No

Hnin Thiri Kyaw 540 540 570 430 500 516 2580 Pass Yes/own

funds Moe Ehdoh Doh 610 540 570 460 540 544 2720 Pass No Naing Win 550 550 490 450 560 520 2600 Pass Yes Hnin Phwe Phwe 640 560 520 540 560 564 2820 Pass Yes Gold Rain 530 530 580 440 500 516 2580 Pass Yes Sam San 560 500 540 470 540 522 2610 Pass Yes Aung Kyaw Moe 540 450 530 450 430 480 2400 Pass Yes

Khoun Hseng 480 500 530 460 560 506 2530 Pass Yes/own

funds Kyi Kyi Tin 470 450 460 470 550 480 2400 Pass Yes Kyaw Thwin Moe 530 440 570 410 540 498 2490 Pass Yes Eh May Paw 540 510 540 460 520 514 2570 Pass No Han Win Aung 460 480 500 440 510 478 2390 Pass No Thu Zar Win 500 510 540 430 530 502 2510 Pass No Say Wah 570 560 540 500 580 550 2750 Pass Yes Zar Zar Tun* 650 490 480 470 510 520 2600 Pass Yes Mi Ni Ni Aye* 520 460 480 410 540 482 2410 Pass Yes Sai Harn* 540 530 520 460 470 504 2520 Pass No Than Layo Ne* 450 460 470 460 500 468 2340 Pass No Averages 563 522 554 486 543 534 2666 100% 45%


2012/13

Student Math Sci Social Lit English Avg Total GED University Hla San Oo 570 480 480 490 480 500 2500 Pass No Saw Htee Moo Shee 540 480 480 440 520 492 2460 Pass Yes Shin Ye' Htut 570 550 520 440 540 524 2620 Pass Yes Yaungni Oo 520 560 520 570 500 534 2670 Pass No Than Than Moe 540 470 480 550 500 496 2540 Pass Yes Thar Htoo 490 470 490 460 540 490 2450 Pass No Aung Thant Oo 630 540 510 480 530 538 2690 Pass Yes Nann Ei Phyu 530 500 550 470 580 526 2630 Pass Yes Naw Snow Say 550 520 500 440 530 508 2540 Pass Yes Samuel Mosay 650 610 510 570 530 574 2870 Pass No Mi Reh 540 500 510 460 470 496 2480 Pass Yes Saw Alexander 530 540 520 450 570 522 2610 Pass Yes Sa Steven Win 570 470 530 480 530 516 2580 Pass No Thang Cin Lian 510 530 510 520 460 506 2530 Pass No Nan Phyu Phyu Win 490 510 500 470 550 504 2520 Pass Yes May Palae Maung 420 440 540 470 500 474 2370 Pass No Nant Hsan Bwah 540 530 490 430 540 506 2530 Pass Yes Hal Lay Paw 510 450 530 490 450 486 2430 Pass No Mongpeng Rotechanarahikon 540 470 440 380 ? 458 1830 Pass Yes Ma Pan Pwint 530 610 570 580 490 556 2780 Pass No Aung Kyi Oo 490 420 440 450 490 458 2290 Pass No Averages 536 507 506 480 515 508 2,545 100% 52%


Appendix 4 – New SK Dream Scholarship Recipients


Appendix 5 – Financials

NOTE: US$ CHF exchange rate was close to parity when the budget estimates were fianlised, however the US$ has appreciated against he CHF over the period.

skdream mhep fy jun13 - danaasia.org

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