Authorities in southern Thailand have arrested four Myanmar nationals for illegally operating a Burmese-language school inside a church on Koh Phangan, a popular tourist island, police reported on Wednesday.
The school, located within the Koh Phangan International Church, was discovered by police and local administrative officials on Tuesday, according to Police Major Charoenchai Boonkliang, an investigative inspector with Surat Thani police.
Officers found 190 Myanmar children, aged 3-12, attending classes at the facility, along with 31 English- and Burmese-language textbooks, according to a report by Bangkok Post.
The arrested individuals were identified as Aye Mya Thu Zar, 40, Yan Naing Soe, 31, Mya Mya Win, 33, and Chit Phyo Naung, 21. They have been charged with illegally running the school, while two of them also face additional charges for working without a permit.
Charoenchai said that the school had been in operation for six months and primarily served the children of Myanmar migrant workers employed in Koh Phangan.
Parents were charged a daily fee of 300 baht per child for education services. Authorities are currently investigating the true ownership of the school and examining whether the children’s parents hold valid work permits.
This case highlights the challenges faced by migrant workers in Thailand’s tourism-dependent islands, including Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Koh Tao.
Myanmar workers are highly valued in the industry for their ability to quickly learn English and other foreign languages such as German and Russian, which are essential for the country’s tourism sector.
However, despite their contributions, they receive little direct support from authorities.
While Thai officials have said that Myanmar children are allowed to enroll in local schools, access remains difficult for those whose parents lack official documentation.
As a result, many migrant children face uncertainty and are at a high risk of exploitation.
This is not the first crackdown on Burmese-language schools in the region. Last year, authorities shut down six similar institutions in Surat Thani province, citing legal and regulatory violations.
The case underscores the broader struggle of migrant workers in Thailand, who play a crucial role in the country’s tourism and service sectors but continue to grapple with legal and social barriers.
