Your contribution improves education quality!

It wasn’t long ago that the children in the Phine area didn’t want to go to school. They were bored. The classrooms were over-crowded. They didn’t understand what was being taught.

But today, things have changed for the better. A new primary school for grades 1 to 5 was built in the Phine programme area. A total of 84 students attend the school. Everyday the students are excited to dress-up in their white school uniforms, heading to school for another day of learning.

“I am happy with my studies now,” says Thong, 10, a grade 2 student.

Previously, the teachers at the school followed an age-old teaching style – writing lessons on the blackboard, asking children to copy and memorize them. Children did not actively participate, were not encouraged to ask questions.

“I did not understand the lessons that the teachers taught. It made me bored and I did not want to study anymore,” says another student Pouiy, 12.

“The students didn’t want to learn and they were not able to see the importance of education. They were very poor in studying, and the teachers too were lacking skills and had too many students in their classrooms,” says teacher Bounxon Sitthidet, 27.

He adds, “The other reason that students did not want to study was because of their parents. Some of families struggle with food and income and they were not fully supportive of their children going to school. They wanted their children to help with the farm work because they did not see the value of education.”

Things begin to change

In 2013, World Vision implemented an education program to help teachers improve their skills, and for students to explore new ways of learning. Training was provided for teachers in 22 schools to help them develop learner-centered instruction techniques to improve the quality of education.

World Vision staff also started education awareness for parents, to help them understand the value of education for their children.

The schools were supplied with sports materials like footballs and sports uniforms, in addition to water pumps for the school vegetable gardens.

The Results

Teacher Bounxon shares, “Last year, when we used our own method of teaching, in my grade 2 class there was five students who did not pass. And if we compare to this year with the new techniques there was only one student who did not pass from grade 2 to grade 3.”

“I love studying by group because I feel I am not alone when I do not understand the lesson. Before, I was very shy when studying in the class or when teachers ask me something,” says Pouiy, 12. “But now, I feel more confident to study.”

The parents are also becoming more understanding and seeing the importance of education for their children’s future; supporting their studies rather than having them work in the fields.

“I dream of becoming a policeman in the future because I want to wear the police uniform. It looks very smart for me and I want to regular salary so that I can help myself and family,” says Pouiy.

And another friend, Thong, 12, grade 2, says with a big smile, “I want to become a teacher because in our school do not have enough teachers.”

“I am happy to be a teacher. Even though I am not from this village, my hope is to see all the students complete their studies, get a good job and be able to take care of themselves in the future,” says teacher Bounxon.