Remote learning without the tech in Myanmar’s IDP camps

Above: 10-year-old Abdulla learning at home with materials provided by Save the Children through the AHP response. Photo: Save the Children

Home learning has become part of life for children all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, including in Myanmar, where the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) supports the Education in Emergencies response.

Children living in internally displaced persons camps have often already faced disruptions to their education. AHP partners have constructed temporary learning spaces in the camps to improve access to schooling for children and youths. But the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that all schools and learning centres have been closed for nearly the whole 2020-21 academic year.

Ten-year-old Abdulla* finished Grade 3 at a temporary learning space before the pandemic hit, but he has spent the last year being unable to attend class.

Abdulla lives with his three sisters at an aunt’s home, as they have no parents. Abdulla’s two elder sisters were not able to complete their education and cannot read or write, so they are helping at a small traditional food shop with their aunt to earn a livelihood.

But Abdulla wants to be a graduate.

“I am very sad when I cannot go to school due to COVID-19 because I have no parents who can teach me, and my elder sisters and my aunt also cannot teach me at home. My aunt and my sisters want me to attend school, but they have no tuition fee. So I am worried what will happen if school will not be able to open in the 2021-2022 academic year,” he said.

To keep children learning, AHP partner Save the Children has supported home-based lessons for children aged 6-15, covering literacy, numeracy and COVID-19 protection. While students in other countries tuned in to online classes, families in Myanmar’s IDP camps did not have such resources to hand. Instead, students were divided into groups of five in line with Ministry of Health and Sports guidelines. Save the Children staff trained volunteer teachers in home visit safety guidelines to reach more than 7000 students in Sittwe and Pauktaw camps with home-based lessons.

Above: Abdulla studying with his small group of five and a volunteer teacher. Photo: Save the Children

“In October last year, three volunteer teachers who taught me at the Temporary Learning Centre came to my house and collected the number of students in my house. The teachers said that they would give home-based learning sessions during the school closure. When I heard the news, I was very happy and thankful for my volunteer teachers,” Abdulla said.

Teachers provided students with home-based learning materials, including a uniform, face mask and face shield, along with stationary, so they could participate in the small-group classes. Parents and children have provided positive feedback on the materials and lessons.

While Abdulla has enjoyed his home-based classes, especially reading stories, he says he still can’t wait to get back to school.

“Although we have access to learning at home, we want to go to school together with many friends as before,” he says. “I’m praying they reopen the school for the next academic year and that we are free from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The AHP Education in Emergencies response in Myanmar will run until December 2022. AHP partners involved include Save the Children Australia, Plan International Australia, Lutheran World Federation, Humanity and Inclusion and Muslim Aid.

*Name changed