PREJUDICE IN THE PLAYGROUND
At Bokluea School, the largest school in Nan’s Bo Kluea district, Lua students represent some 70-80% of the student body. Students attending the school have one of five family names: Jaiping, Akkara, Pitsajan, Kalek and Untin.
Founded in 1989, the state school is under the patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and has 509 students from Grade 7 to 12.
Widarat Kantawong, 26, who has taught at the school for 18 months, admits that communication is difficult because the majority of students speak Lua.
In addition, less than half of the 30 students in each classroom would show up for class because they would help their parents out in the corn and rice fields during the harvesting season.
As a result, Ms Widarat refrains from being judgemental.
“At first I wasn’t used to it, but later on I would ask their friends [of students who did not come to class] to verify their leave, and I would put an asterisk next to their name as a reminder to allow them to enter the exam room,” she said. “It’s hard to brand them as bad children when they might be considered good in the eyes of their parents for helping the household.”
At school, racial prejudice is widespread, and some Lua students try to hide their ethnicity to avoid being teased.
“Some of the kids are very embarrassed,” she said. “When asked to work in groups, the non-Lua students would not join the same group as the Lua.”
The school sees a very low rate of students looking to further their education, said Ms Widarat, as parents are more interested in making a living.
“Most parents send their students to school because they are afraid of breaking the law,” she said.
Most Ban Pa Kam children, however, attend a community school, which has up to sixth grade.
Those who choose to further their study would attend the village’s non-formal education centre until Grade 12.