Burmese Refugee Students and the Challenges of Navigating Postsecondary Education Opportunities

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 10:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Supporting Equitable Postsecondary Experiences (Table 11)

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate how revised school policies might help remedy and repair educational inequalities tied to the experiences of first and second-generation refugee high school students with their peers, teachers, and counselors. My objective in this study is to explore the experiences of 12 Burmese refugee high school students through in-depth interviews to understand, from their perspectives, how different sources of social and cultural capital have helped them to navigate high school and plan for life afterwards. My major findings are: (i) peers were a major source of social and cultural capital; (ii) teachers were a moderate source; and (iii) counselors were a minimal source—due to general confusion about their role and function.

Author

• Ngo Hna, University at Buffalo - SUNY