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Writer's pictureManushya Foundation
Jan 24, 2022

International Day of Education - is Thailand doing enough?



👩‍🎓 Yesterday, we celebrated the International Day of Education. ✨ At Manushya Foundation, we recognize the need for universal education not only as an important human right but also as an important means of achieving other human rights!


✊ Every human being has a right to education, regardless of their social or economic status, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation or any other distinction that could disadvantage them. In reality, many groups in Thailand still struggle to get quality education! 🚨


➡️ LGBTIQ+ children and youth face discrimination at schools and especially transgender persons don't have access to adequate facilities (e.g. third-gender restrooms).


➡️ Khon Isaan children and youth are denied the use of their mother language - a Lao Isaan dialect - at schools in the name of 'Thainess' which has devastating effects on their culture.


➡️ The COVID-19 pandemic had a serious impact on children of migrant workers as many of them had to drop out of school to help earn money for their families or struggled to access their online classes.


➡️ Due to the lack of Thai citizenship, many indigenous peoples are excluded from access to public services, including education.


➡️ Inclusive education is still not achieved for persons with disabilities. While lack of specially qualified personnel remains a serious issue, some schools even refuse to enroll persons with disabilities!


➡️ Access to education is often difficult for children in the Southern Border Provinces. Children of insurgents are often stigmatized at school and older children sometimes drop out completely to financially support their families, especially in cases when the breadwinner of the family is detained.


❗This is not a country where the right to education has been achieved!


📍 During its 3rd UPR cycle, Thailand accepted 10 recommendations on the right to education, including education for LGBTIQ+ persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities and stateless persons. During its CERD Review, Thailand was also recommended to provide education and other public services to migrant workers and their families without discrimination. Thailand must implement all UPR recommendations and CERD Concluding Observations (which are also legally binding) concerning the right to education!


#WeAreManushyan - Equal Human Beings


✊ Join us in our call to the Thai government to ensure that every child and youth has access to quality education!


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👉 Does Thailand do enough to provide access to education for all? Let us know in the comments!




 

References

Manushya Foundation, Everything You Need to Know About #WhatsHappeningInThailand, (2021), available at: https://www.manushyafoundation.org/thailand-third-upr-cycle-factsheets

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