September 16 (NMG) ­ A handful of teachers from border who went to England to upgrade their studies returned back to their homeland were eager to change disastrous school education in border areas.

Five teachers from Thai and China border areas were selected by Thai-based National Health and Education Committee (NHEC) and had trained in teaching techniques at Newcastle University, UK for one year.

Schools run by volunteer-basis in border areas had been threaten by insufficient financial assistance, inadequate number of teachers and civil-war prom situations.

“I believe that my teaching experiences and newly-acquired teaching techniques would transform my school as a model school. And I hope I can gradually persuade other teachers in my community,” said U Hla Htay, the principal of Mae-Khong-Khar School (Zala Karen Refugee Camp) run by All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF).

Further he admitted that these volunteer teachers should recognize themselves to enhance their abilities and the combined efforts by them should lead to uplifting the education of school children.

“I, myself, alone cannot do it. It depends on how much I can share my experiences, how much these teachers are interested and how much they can cooperate to uplift the education,” he explained the need of participation of his college teachers.

Eighteen teachers are serving for nearly 400 students of various ethnic nationalities at Zala Refugee Camp which is run by ABSDF.

According to NHEC, over 140,000 students in border areas are receiving educational assistance under the education empowerment program of the NHEC.

Several thousand of students of various ethnic nationals including children of democracy activists have to depend on volunteer schools in respective border areas. However, most of them have to conclude their schooling after 10th grade.

Network Media Group