"The Karen State Education Assistance Group supports the 3,981 teachers and 83,920 students working and studying in the 1,049 Karen primary and secondary schools throughout Karen State, Burma. Schools have historically been organised and supported by local communities themselves under the administrative supervision of the Karen Education Department. However, acute poverty, lack of food, poor health and displacement due to Burmese military aggression has meant that school running costs have become too great a burden on communities and parents. Teachers explain that communities? inability to provide them foods or basic subsidies is the main reason for attrition - 37% of teachers annually in 2002 but the rate has dropped significantly since the beginning of education assistance, to 17% this year. As such, the central problem being addressed by this project is the lack of teacher subsidies, school and student materials and basic student health provisions and how this negatively affects primary and secondary education throughout Karen State, Burma. Planet Wheeler Foundation supports KSEAG in their education assistance program for the Karen people."