Lahu students in Thai schools: The cases of som and noi

Abstract

Northern Thailand is home to a variety of diverse ethnic groups and their unique cultures. Included are the Lahu people, who reside throughout most of the countries of mainland Southeast Asia and southwestern China. At present, many Lahu students attend Thai public schools both in their home village-communities as well as larger Thai towns and cities. Teaching in an elementary school, I observed that Lahu students encountered challenges different from those of their Thai peers. In order to help schools and educators create learning environments that consider the specific needs of Lahu students and help them to succeed in school, this qualitative study inquired into the schooling experiences of two Lahu sisters: Som, who discontinued her schooling before completing upper secondary school, and Noi, who graduated from a Thai university. Particular attention was given to the influences of family, peer groups, and schools on the participants' schooling experiences. The results suggest that a lack of knowledge as to how to go about pursuing available educational opportunities contributed to Som discontinuing her schooling before completing upper secondary school. In Noi's case, the use of discrimination as a source motivation and the internalization of schooling as a pathway to future fulfillment were instrumental in her graduating from university. For both sisters, overcoming linguistic borders as well as socioeconomic constraints were significant aspects of their schooling experiences.