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The political conflict, compounded with human rights violations and ethnic cleansing, have forced many to flee for their lives or voluntarily leave their country in search of greener pastures. Among the refugees there are young people who have nothing except their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. A good many of them have completed high school and have the potential to continue their education to learn better ways to help build their society and community. Without traditional support systems and ignored by international aid agencies, youths affected by armed conflicts are unable to study in the established institutes of higher education for various reasons. The AEIOU (All Ethnic International Open University ) Programme, in cooperation with Chiang Mai University, is a small attempt to fill in this gap...........
AEIOU also realise that the Junta was wielding the most important weapon. That is education. Generations of Burmese Generals under the banner of Tatmadaw has deliberately neglected the education either because of the upheaval in schools and universities with closures, removal of institutions to remote sites, lack of freedom of expression, loss of qualified and experienced staff, maintenance of rote learning in schools and the failure to keep up with modern developments, and isolation from the rest of the world. ........... Any body who is between age 20 and thirty be he/she be a refugee, Internally Displaced Persons or any marginalized youths irrespective of race, religion, color or creed can join this Programme, provided he passed the Matriculation (entrance) examinations.............. The AEIOU programme is operated as an open university and the students are required to work all year round. In the first semester, all the students come to the campus to study and have contact with the teachers. In the second semester, they are required to go back to their respective communities to work and serve there; to see that they are not cut off from their roots.............. Attendance, Punctuality, Self-Discipline, Attitude, Cooperation, Flexibility, Course Grade.............. It was discovered that the brave ones joined the ethnic armies and got killed, the timid ones drifted into the nearest town to become illegal workers, many got involved in narcotics while most of them get married soon and the vicious cycle begin again. The population in the refugee camp exploded threatening the surrounding villages. Something must be done..............
If you have any further questions on AEIOU after reading all these documents above, please contact the Dean of AEIOU Prof Win profwin@gmail.com .
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