We (6 instructors, 1 TA, 2 office members, and 50 4th-year BBA students) spent 4 days in Nonsamran Village between December 12-15, 2006. Seven groups of students conducted mini research projects they deemed appropriate.
With background in science and agriculture, I automatically assumed the responsibilities for two groups: one on local silk production and the other on the production and use of organic fertilizers.
I will not be telling you about either the silk or the fertilizers (although both are VERY interesting subjects). A teacher by heart, I am passionately drawn to the quality of education for the local kids.
At dinner on the night we presented our findings and recommendations to the villagers, I met the School Director, Mrs. Pakjira. Our conversation was about her students, school, facilities, and urgent needs. The sweet and gracious director gave me the following pictures of the Nonsamran School.
There are 2 teachers and a director responsible for 8 levels:
One teacher teaches Kindergartens 1 and 2, Grades 1 and 2.
The other teacher handles Grades 3 and 4.
The director is responsible for Grades 5 and 6.
The teachers have to split their time between classes--teaching one class and assigning exercises, then turning to the other class. The teachers do not have to walk far, for the students of 2 different grades share a classroom. There are 3 classrooms. (The picture is a bit better than the depiction of the school in Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series in which one teacher handled ALL the classes. But that was over 100 years ago.)
Despite these difficulties and the distraction, the kids are surprising bright. Kids from lower grades sometimes answer questions of the higher grades!
There are about 6 students in each class (see the last column in "Enrollment" photo below). Though the number is low, there are not enough books for everyone. Typically, 2 students--sometimes 3--share a copy of worn-out old textbooks. That means they have to finish their homework at school and have no books to read at home afterwards.
A few years ago, the school was about to be shut down due to the lack of budget and small student number. However, the villagers united and helped out. There have also been some outside support. Once a month, a group of "Brain Food" volunteers come in and teach (I did not get the details). Two months a year, an education apprentice from Mahasarakham Teachers College spends his/her time teaching here. Still, essential tools such as books and teaching aids are scarce and definitely inadequate.
I told the director about my life-long intention to buy books for needy students. (In fact, if I am more financially secure, I would love to give scholarships to needy students. But that may be years from now.) She was enthusiastic and said that it would be a blessing for these students. So I planned on visiting the school the next morning.
Curious onlookers waiting to see what the big kids from Bangkok would do.
Some of the village kids who came to see our presentations on December 14 2006.
The school is located at the edge of the village. A loose gravel road leads to the one-storey school. Further down this road are an experimental pond for a freshwater aquaculture project and the silk weaving barn. On a cool morning it was pleasant enough. I would imagine it would be quite muddy and slippery in the rainy season.
Along the road, cow chips are a frequent and familiar sight. Had I been a student, I would go around picking them up and bringing them straight to my manure-and-refuse compost pile. It was such a waste to let this organic wonder turn to dust.
On Friday Dec 15th, the school was closed. There was an annual county fair that all the villagers, as well as government officials, had to attend. There were contests on various local produce, products, handcrafts and all. Regrettably, we had to miss the opportunity because our students had to formally present their project findings to the whole class.
So I set out earlier and found a few big girls who were willing to be my guides. They showed me around the school and gave additional information. They spoke central Thai dialect well while I could not utter a word of their local dialect (but I understood most of it). They seem to be healthy although a bit skinny compared with city kids.
"THE NONSAMRAN VILLAGE'S SCHOOL"
Enrollment from Kindergarten 1, 2 through Grade 6
The last column shows the number of students in each level.
My guides, students from Grades 5 and 6, outside their classroom
The corridor outside classrooms
A well-weathered chalkboard, with the back of a teacher's chair in the following photo
Rudimentary and makeshift desks and brittle plastic chairs
Notice a bamboo "pointer" (or is it a whacking stick??) on the teacher's desk.
One side of a classroom's walls, all windows closed
Inside the classroom for kindergarten and grades 1+2
(This photo was taken through a hole designed for a door knob, for the room was closed.)
Another crowded classroom
(Another photo taken through a door hole)
An open-air lunch area
A luncheon hut
Notice a half-seat.
A recently collapsed luncheon hut
One of the two rainwater tanks that serve as the students' source of drinking water
Rain is collected from the roof and is fed to the tanks via a drain pipe seen on top.
Notice the tap at the bottom.
Improvised workbooks
Having inadequate budget for real books and teaching materials, teachers have to improvise and make their own.
Photocopied sheets in rusty folders are all the students will get.
Books on their bookshelf
Notice 2 worn-out makeshift desks on the side.
Used books from the past
It saddened me to see the old and falling-apart books.
Thinking about all the beautiful and colorful books in big city bookstores and all the varieties there are, I wonder if rich Bangkok children ever realized their blessings for an easy access and affordability to the wealth of knowledge.
Too bad that the school was closed on the day of my visit. I regretted not to have more pictures of schoolchildren in action.
The school's playground
I spent about 40 minutes at the Nonsamran School, taking pictures and talking to these girls. They told of their hardship and the stories and books they would really love to read.
Holding back tears, I promised to help make their wishes come true.
To prospective contributors who have pledged to help the students of Nonsamran, please accept their heartfelt "THANK YOU" in advance.
For the information on the project,
please visit The Schoolbooks Project Page.
For Panpim's friends and family to contribute,
please visit Schoolbooks Project's Charter.
To see specific requests for books,
please visit Schoolbooks for Kids Page.
To check the list of contributors and expenses,
please visit Donations & Expenses Page.
To check expenses details,
please visit Account Book.
For the books we sent them,
please see Purchased Schoolbooks
