You Cannot Cross: Geography Beyond the Classroom

Population lies at the heart of many geographical issues, shaping government policy, economic decisions and people’s lives. For our Year 12 IB Geography students, this topic came into focus through a memorable guest speaker visit on the final day of half-term.

We were delighted to welcome Vanessa, a Bangkok Patana parent and someone who has worked closely with those affected by the Rohingya refugee crisis. Her session explored the forced migration of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar’s Rakhine State to Bangladesh, where many sought safety in Cox’s Bazar. A major wave of displacement began in August 2017, following violence and persecution.

Vanessa brought this challenging subject to life through an engaging border-crossing simulation. Taking on the roles of refugees, students completed documents and encountered different outcomes: some were allowed through, while others were refused entry and sent back. Although a classroom activity could only offer a limited insight into such experiences, it encouraged students to consider the uncertainty and barriers faced by people seeking refuge.

Discussion then turned to conditions in refugee camps before students tackled the most demanding question: what possible solutions could address this prolonged humanitarian crisis? Evaluating these options challenged them to consider competing perspectives and the difficulties of finding lasting solutions.

The visit complemented their study of forced migration and provided a foundation for exploring displacement caused by environmental factors.