Parents of 13 Myanmar refugee children residing in Mae La camp in Tak Province have petitioned Thailand’s Ministry of Education (MOE) after their children were barred from attending local public schools, highlighting gaps in Thailand's education access policies for refugees.

The children, who were born inside the camp along the Thai-Myanmar border, hold 13-digit identification cards issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Interior (MOI). Because current regulations restrict cardholders from leaving the camp, the MOE ordered all 13 students suspended from Thai government schools outside the camp in early August, Thai news outlet The Reporters reported.

“We only found out after parents brought it to our attention,” said Saw Sunday, head of Mae La camp. He noted that most affected students were preparing to enter Mathayom 1 (the first year of secondary school) when authorities flagged their documentation during routine card application reviews.

According to The Reporters, 46 children living in Mae La camp currently attend Thai government schools. The MOE is reviewing documentation for the remaining 33 students, who now face potential suspension.

While Thailand’s signature "Education for All" policy guarantees basic schooling rights for children of migrant workers, children residing in refugee camps fall under MOI security jurisdiction and lack a clear legal framework permitting off-camp education, explained Saw Htoo K'Por, secretary of the Karen Refugee Committee Education Entity (KRCEE).

KRCEE and border-based civil society organizations are urging the Thai government to allow refugee parents who are legally permitted to work outside the camps to enroll their children in local public schools near their workplaces.

Each year, more than 500 students complete basic education across nine refugee camps along the border. However, even after graduation, higher education opportunities at Thai public universities remain legally out of reach.