Children of the Forest

Education

Access to quality education

Despite a 2005 Thai Cabinet Resolution that guaranteed migrant children the right to public education, reports have shown that less than 30% of registered migrant youth are enrolled in Thai government schools. Without Thai education, migrant children have no opportunities to acquire a Thai national identity card and work permit. Only with a formal Thai ID can migrant children access local rights and privileges. These include healthcare, university eligibility, freedom to travel, a driver's licence, legal employment, and worker protection.

We provide free education programmes so migrant children can access these rights. With 90% of the teaching team being born and raised in Sangklaburi, students are taught in both Thai and their local languages. This is especially important for connecting with new students who might not speak Thai. In our programmes, stateless migrant children develop the confidence, social skills, academic skills, and Thai language fluency necessary to enter the Thai public education system.

Our programmes are designed to support children of all ages, from young children entering education for the first time to older youth and young adults re-entering education later in life. We also provide financial support for qualified graduates of our educational programmes to pursue higher education in a vocational college or university.

Once students graduate with a bachelor's degree, they become eligible to apply for Thai citizenship. The first step is to prepare the student's birth certificate if they do not have one. This takes about one to two months. After that, we guide students through the application process. In approximately one year, the child receives their Thai citizenship card.

Explore our educational pathways below.

CoF Free Elementary School Programme

As of 2024, over 400 children attend the COF Free School. It runs from kindergarten to second grade and is a certified Thai government satellite school. As a satellite school, all students at COF Free School gain the Thai Ministry of Education student number, the first step to official documentation. In addition, it means students receive the accreditation necessary to progress to larger government schools.

We are the only school in this region to accept an out-of-school child all year round. We use a flexible learning and teaching approach that allows non-Thai speakers to integrate into our classrooms. The Free School also educates students about child protection and human trafficking to foster informed and vigilant youth. We aim to enhance our students’ social, academic, and Thai-language skills so they can continue their education at the local government school.

Serving as the first formal education experience for many migrant children, our Free School ensures a positive introduction to education so that these children start and stay in school. Alongside learning, students also have the opportunity to build community through our sports and arts activities. With local teachers and a designated outreach team, we are able to work closely with students’ families to consistently emphasise the importance of education and work together to overcome obstacles.

Kosanor Education Programme

Kosanor education is a pared-down Thai government curriculum that is accessible to teenagers beginning or reentering education (at various stages, from elementary through high school). Its part-time schedule means students have sufficient free time to acquire essential income for themselves or their families. Through this programme, older youth can more quickly matriculate with the same certification as government school graduates. We also cater the programme for teenagers from our Protection centre who are late-starters in education, much older than their classmates, and therefore at high risk of dropping out of school. About 160 students aged 15-22 join our Kosonar programme each year, with many individuals expressing interest in Kosanor through contact in our safety network.

Thai Secondary School Programme

Almost 200 students supported by COF enrol in Thai government junior high and high school every year. We cover the costs of school materials, transport, and lunch so that they can attend local government schools. Over 90% of the students we have supported through this programme have completed their secondary school education. As of 2024, we have assisted over 600 students in graduating from either Grade 3 or Grade 6 of High school.

Outreach Border Support programme

 

COF is committed to supporting community-run schools along the border, always seeking ways to strengthen local, community-driven efforts that help make border communities more resilient. At a Karen school with around 40 children, we provide daily breakfasts and lunches, teacher training, and essential learning materials. At a Mon school serving about 100 young children each year, our support extends to infrastructure improvements, school supplies, healthcare, and teacher salaries. By working alongside these communities, we aim to ensure that children not only receive an education but also the nourishment, care, and opportunity they need to thrive—so that one day, they too can give back and help guide their own communities toward a brighter future.

Higher Education Support Programme

Within the Higher Education Support programme, some of the most profound, long-term change takes place. By assisting motivated and proficient students to attend vocational colleges and universities, the cycle of poverty for them and their families has been broken. In addition, it fosters a new generation of confident and knowledgeable adults returning to the border communities to protect and educate on issues such as trafficking, child labour, domestic violence, and drug abuse. COF has helped over 50 students to graduate from vocational college or university. Many of these young adults choose a career that helps them to give back directly. Indeed, over half of COF’s current staff team have emerged from this higher education scholarship programme.