Assessing multilingual teacher competencies: A case study of indigenous teachers on the Thai–Myanmar border

Myanmar, with a population of 53 million, has 117 recognized languages. Over 23 million people speak one of the seven primary indigenous languages: Shan, Mon, Rakhine (Rohingya), Chin, Kachin, Karenni (Kayah), and Karen (Kayin). From January 2011 to January 2021, under a democratically elected government, government schools exclusively used the national language for instruction. This language is often unfamiliar to many ethnolinguistic minorities until they attend school. A study evaluated the proficiency of 16 teachers in multilingual education (MLE) in southeastern Myanmar and a temporary shelter on the Thai-Myanmar border. Remarkably, 94% of these ethnic and refugee teachers met the MLE competency standards, facilitating students' transition from their mother tongue to Burmese or English. This study was a collaborative effort with organizations including KECD, KNGY, KTWG, MNEC, RISE, KRC–EE, and World Education Thailand and Myanmar.

Recommended Citation:

Tyrosvoutis, G., Chan, L., Win, N., Htoo, S. E. K., Oo, K. J. B. W. L., Htun, N. N. T., ... & Mon, N. R. O. (2022). Assessing multilingual teacher competencies: A case study of indigenous teachers on the Thai–Myanmar border. Journal of Multilingual Theories and Practices, 3(2), 274-297.