Presentation Schedule
Barriers to Education: The Struggles of Myanmar Refugee Parents in Supporting Their Children in the U.S. (88868)
Session Chair: Robert Hamilton
This presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom (Online Access)
Tuesday, 7 January 2025 19:05
Session: Session 3
Room: Live-Stream Room 4
Presentation Type: Live-Stream Presentation
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This study investigates the educational challenges faced by Myanmar refugee parents in Lowell, Massachusetts, adopting a qualitative approach preceded by a preliminary survey. The survey, involving 28 Myanmar adults, identified a broad spectrum of community needs, with educational barriers emerging as particularly pressing. These findings informed the subsequent qualitative phase, which included in-depth interviews with 13 parents to explore these barriers in greater detail.
The research highlights limited English proficiency, cultural differences, and lack of formal education as major barriers to parental involvement in education. Despite these challenges, the study underscores the vital role of community support in mitigating these issues. Within the community, informal networks—comprising language assistance, information sharing, and social support from local ethnic and faith-based organizations—are pivotal. Moreover, strong partnerships with local organizations, such as the SayDaNar Myanmar Community Development Center, are instrumental in facilitating access to essential resources and support networks. These collaborative efforts are key in helping parents navigate the complexities of the U.S. educational system.
Drawing from these findings, the paper advocates reinforcing informal support systems and implementing targeted interventions. These include bilingual educational workshops, improved communication strategies between schools and Myanmar families, and new community liaison roles to enhance the support network. These measures are designed to tackle immediate educational barriers and strengthen community infrastructure, preparing it for future refugee integration. By enhancing and ensuring the sustainability of educational support mechanisms, this study offers actionable insights to improve educational outcomes and facilitate the integration of refugee families into the U.S. education system.
Authors:
Lugyi No, University of Massachusetts, United States
Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung, University of Massachusetts, United States
About the Presenter(s)
Mr Lugyi No is a University Doctoral Student at University of Massachusetts, Lowell in United States
Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lugyino/
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